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<a class="domain reader-domain" href="https://mondoweiss.net/2023/11/the-largest-palestine-protest-in-u-s-history-shuts-down-the-streets-of-d-c/">mondoweiss.net</a>
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<h1 class="reader-title">The largest Palestine protest in U.S. history shut down the streets of D.C.</h1>
<div class="credits reader-credits">Michael Arria - November 5, 2023
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<p>On Saturday, hundreds of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C., to
demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Organizers estimate 300,000 people attended
the rally and march, easily making the largest demonstration for
Palestine in United States history.</p>
<p>Protesters gathered in Freedom Plaza, where organizers delivered
speeches and led chants in support of Gaza, before marching to The White
House. The event was organized by a coalition of organizations,
including the Palestinian Youth Movement, ANSWER Coalition, American
Muslim Alliance, The People’s Forum, National Students for Justice in
Palestine, Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, U.S.
Palestinian Community Network, U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, and
Maryland2Palestine, and <a href="https://www.answercoalition.org/national_march_for_palestine_saturday_nov_4">endorsed by over 500 organizations</a>
representing justice movements across the United States. A companion
rally was held on the West Coast in San Francisco and drew an estimated
50,000 people.</p>
<p>“For the past four weeks we have witnessed the horrific slaughter of
our people in Gaza by the Israeli occupation take place with complete
support of the Biden administration. This massacre must end today, and
we are here to ensure that Israel and its partners in genocide are held
accountable,” said Yara Shoufani of the Palestinian Youth Movement.</p>
<img width="392" height="261" src="https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NationalMarch-NW-137-1024x683.jpg" alt="National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. Protestors are in the street carrying banners that read "Palestinian Feminist Collective" and "Honor the Martyrs of Palestine."" class="moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 25px;">National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. (Photo: Laura Albast)
<p>Speakers addressed the capacity crowd for close to three hours before
the march headed toward The White House. Speakers included attorney and
activist Noura Erakat, writer, poet, and <em>Mondoweiss</em> Culture
Editor Mohammed El-Kurd, historian, author Vijay Prashad,
representatives of the Palestinian Feminist Collective who were joined
by actor Susan Sarandon, student activists from across the U.S. as well
as representatives from leading Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, Black,
Indigenous, and other co-sponsoring organizations.</p>
<p>“We are united by our commitment to humanity, our absolute refusal to
let Western powers and Israel bury it beneath their depraved pursuit of
wealth and privilege,” Erakat told the crowd.</p>
<p>Breakthrough News ran a complete live telecast of the rally:</p>
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<p>“They told me to do my research, that it’s too complex, to be
silent,” said the rapper Macklemore at the rally. “In the last three
weeks, I’ve gone back and I have done some research, I don’t know
everything, but I know enough to know that this is a genocide.”</p>
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<p>Israel has carried out an unrelenting siege on Gaza since the October
7 Hamas attack, killing nearly 10,000 Palestinian civilians as of the
time of writing. The majority of deaths have been children.</p>
<p>Many singled out the current administration for supporting Israel’s
crimes. “BIDEN BIDEN YOU CAN’T HIDE, WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE,” was
one of the most consistent chants, and multiple speakers alluded to
Democratic support eroding as a result of the situation. A <a href="https://www.aaiusa.org/library/arab-americans-special-poll-domestic-implications-of-the-most-recent-outbreak-of-violence-in-palestineisrael">recent poll</a> from the Arab American Institute found support for Biden precipitously dropping to just 17%, down from 74% in 2020.</p>
<p>“We will not let them tell us that the only refuge we have from
right-wing Republicans are two-faced liberals,” imam and professor Omar
Suleiman told the protesters to great applause. While the crowd was
gathered in front of The White House, a young girl rolled up her protest
sign to yell in the building’s direction: “GENOCIDE JOE, YOU DON’T
SCARE ME!”</p>
<p>Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently met Israeli leaders to
urge a humanitarian pause, but Israel’s bombing campaign has only <a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2023/11/operation-al-aqsa-flood-day-29-israel-hits-hospitals-ambulances-and-schools-across-gaza/">intensified.</a> </p>
<img width="392" height="261" src="https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Adrian-A-1024x682.jpg" alt="Overhead shot of the National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023." class="moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 25px;">National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. (Photo: Adrian A)
<p>“I’m here because I don’t agree with what the U.S. is doing and the
fact we’re complicit,” Emily, a protester who lived in D.C., told <em>Mondoweiss</em>.</p>
<p>“It’s been really amazing to see the movement grow and see how big
it’s becoming. I have been working on Palestine solidarity issues for 15
years and it’s been energizing to see all the different actions.”</p>
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<img width="261" height="392" src="https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Adrian-A-1-682x1024.jpg" alt="Overhead shot of the National March on Washington: Free Palestine, with a huge Palestinian flag carried through the crowd. November 4, 2023." class="moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;">National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. (Photo: Adrian A)
<p>Aya, a Palestinian protester who came from Toronto, told <em>Mondoweiss</em>
that she believes that the U.S. has the most power to stop the attacks.
“I don’t necessarily think this action will change what Biden does,”
she explained. “But it is good for morale. I think it can inspire people
to organize more in their communities.”</p>
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<img width="0" height="0" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20813%201024'%3E%3C/svg%3E" alt="National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. (Photo: Laura Albast)" class="moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;"><img src="cid:ii_lolsuoxo0" alt="NationalMarch-NW-292-1152x2048-1-768x967.jpg" width="311" height="392"><br>National March on Washington: Free Palestine, November 4, 2023. (Photo: Laura Albast)</div>
<p>The D.C. actions come amid widespread protests throughout the country. In the past week, thousands of activists have <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/03/nation/protesters-at-capitol-call-for-gaza-cease-fire/">demonstrated</a>
in cities, held sit-ins outside of congressional offices, and shut down
businesses demanding an end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing
campaign. Multiple protesters called for further protests and for
attendees to support internationally-coordinated day of disruption on
November 9 titled <a href="https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/global-shutdown-for-palestine-to-make-israeli-genocide-unsustainable/">“Shut it Down for Palestine!”.</a></p>
<p>These are the largest <a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2023/10/we-are-witnessing-the-largest-u-s-anti-war-protests-in-20-years/">anti-war protests</a>
that the country has seen since the Iraq War of 2003, but many
activists point out that the mainstream media has understated their
scope. “CNN said 40,000 people showed up,” a young woman checking her
phone told <em>Mondoweiss</em> after the march. “Al Jazeera says 100,000,” offered her dad with a chuckle.</p>
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<p><strong>Michael Arria</strong><br>Michael Arria is the U.S. correspondent for Mondoweiss. Follow him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelarria">@michaelarria</a>.</p>
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