Capitol Police arrest more than 40 pro-ceasefire protesters inside Senate office building
December 11, 2023 12:26 PM
United States Capitol Police officers arrested more than 40 people protesting inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Monday, calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
The police said in a statement that a group of people began “illegally protesting” inside the office building just after 10 a.m.
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“It is illegal to demonstrate inside the Congressional Buildings,” Capitol Police said. “More than 40 people were arrested for D.C. Code § 22–1307 — Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. One person climbed a statue in the atrium. He was arrested separately for § 22–405.01 — Resisting Arrest.”
Final numbers on those arrested by police will be released later, the police said.
Videos captured inside the office building showed the protesters lying on the ground and calling for “ceasefire now.” The protesters also threw “blood money” on the floor in the building’s atrium.
Happening now in Hart Senate office building: protestors calling for “ceasefire now” have strewn “blood money” all over the floor and are lying on the ground.
I’m told that USCP is zip tying them one by one. pic.twitter.com/3VaRek7Oo3
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) December 11, 2023
Photos captured a man who climbed onto the black statue in the middle of the first floor at the Hart Senate Office Building. The protester yelled, “Ceasefire now,” and was later charged with resisting arrest.
Monday’s protest is the latest in a string of demonstrations from pro-Palestinian and pro-ceasefire activists calling for an end to violence between Israel and Hamas, as the war passed the one-month mark last week since the group launched terrorist attacks on the Jewish state on Oct. 7.
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In November, Code Pink activists occupied the offices of numerous Senate Democrats demanding a ceasefire, leading to the arrests of 52 demonstrators. The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights hung a banner outside Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) office calling for the U.S. to stop arming Israel. Activists were screaming at Misty Rebik, Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-VT) chief of staff, as she walked into her office.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), one of the most vocal pro-Israel Democratic senators, responded to boos and jeers from pro-Palestinian protesters by waving an Israeli flag while leaving the Russell Senate Office Building in November.