2023 Israel–Hamas War Protests In The United States
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Protests, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils, relating to the
Gaza war The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza–Israel conflicts dating ...
have occurred nationwide across the United States since the conflict's start on October 7, 2023, occurring as part of a broader phenomenon of the
Gaza war protests The Gaza war has sparked protests, demonstrations, and vigils around the world. These protests focused on a variety of issues related to the conflict, including demands for a ceasefire, an end to the October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza ...
around the world. In the first ten days of the war, pro-Israeli demonstrations in support of Israel in the wake of the Hamas-led attack and focusing on the Israeli hostage crisis were most common, but they have since been outnumbered by pro-Palestinian anti-war protests calling for a ceasefire and an end to the
Israeli occupation Israel has occupied the Golan Heights of Syria and the Palestinian territories since the Six-Day War of 1967. It has previously occupied the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and southern Lebanon as well. Prior to 1967, control of the Palestinian terr ...
. Pro-Palestinian protestors criticized US military and diplomatic support to Israel, Israel's invasion of the
Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. I ...
, Israel's genocide of Gazans, and other Israeli
war crimes A war crime is a violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility for actions by combatants in action, such as intentionally killing civilians or intentionally killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hos ...
. These protests included Jewish groups and some US administration staffers. By December 5, more than 1 million Americans had participated in protest over the conflict, across over 2,600 events: 442 in support of Israel, and 2,100 in support of Palestine. An escalation of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses began on April 17, 2024, and continued into 2025. Four people have self-immolated in protest of the war: an unidentified woman draped in a Palestinian flag on December 1, 2023, in
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, Georgia, who survived with serious injures; and
Aaron Bushnell On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, died after self-immolation, setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C., Embassy of Israel in Washingto ...
, a 25-year-old serviceman of the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
, in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, died in hospital on February 25, 2024. The third by anti-war activist Matt Nelson occurred in
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in September 2024. The fourth occurred in Washington, D.C., in October 2024.


National

Pro-Palestine protests were held throughout the United States on Black Friday with activists calling to "shut it down" for Palestine. There were protests in Los Angeles; Chicago;
Troy, Michigan Troy is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Detroit, Troy is located about north of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 87,294, ...
;
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;
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; and many other cities. As of December 5, according to Harvard's Nonviolent Action Lab and the Crowd Counting Consortium, more than 1 million Americans had participated in protests over the conflict. "Ceasefire carols" were organized by activists throughout the United States leading up to Christmas 2023. Sarah Abbott who helped organize a carol outside Senator Amy Klobuchar's home was quoted in
CBS Minnesota WCCO-TV (channel 4), branded CBS Minnesota, is a television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, serving the Twin Cities area. It is owned and operated by the CBS television network through its CBS News and Stations divisi ...
saying, "Our government is funding this genocide, white Christians have historically and currently played major roles in the perpetuation of
Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...
, and as people of conscience, we can't stand by silently." Ceasefire carols were sung in
Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
;
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...
;
Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...
; and in at least 17 other cities. On December 27, protesters blocked airports, including at
John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. JFK Airport is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. It is ...
and
Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its Greater Los Angeles, surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of California. LAX is located in the Westchester, Los Angeles, Westcheste ...
. In February 2024, a joint report by the
Center for Constitutional Rights The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR; formerly Law Center for Constitutional Rights) is an American progressive non-profit legal advocacy organization based in New York City. It was founded in 1966 by lawyers William Kunstler, Arthur Kin ...
and
Palestine Legal Palestine Legal is an advocacy group focused on defending people who support Palestinian rights. The group is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its founder and director is Dima Khalidi, a Palestinian born in Beirut and raised in the US. Act ...
found widespread legal attacks against pro-Palestinian activism, describing it as "a dangerous attack on constitutionally protected speech and association". In response to actions taken by the
Biden administration Joe Biden's tenure as the List of presidents of the United States, 46th president of the United States began with Inauguration of Joe Biden, his inauguration on January 20, 2021, and ended on January 20, 2025. Biden, a member of the Democr ...
in support of Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who has served as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime min ...
's approach to the war,
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
and
Arab Americans Arab Americans ( or ) are Americans who trace ancestry to any of the Arab immigration to the United States, various waves of immigrants from the Arabic-speaking countries. In the United States census, Arabs are racially classified as White Amer ...
organized a campaign titled "Abandon Biden" to advocate against voting for Biden in the
2024 presidential election This is a list of elections that were held in 2024. The National Democratic Institute also maintains a calendar of elections around the world. *2024 United Nations Security Council election *2024 national electoral calendar *2024 local electoral ...
. Leaders from the
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and
United Auto Workers The United Auto Workers (UAW), fully named International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and sou ...
vowed to use their electoral clout to push for a ceasefire. On March 31, 2024, USAF airman Larry Hebert, a member of Veterans for Peace, began a hunger strike to bring attention to starving children in Gaza. The Tax Day protests were held on Tax Day (April 15). After the police crackdown of the
2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation A series of protests, encampments, and Occupation (protest), occupations by pro-Palestinian, pro-Palestine students occurred at Columbia University in New York City during the Gaza war, in the context of the broader Gaza war protests in the U ...
on April 18, Gaza solidarity encampments spread to multiple campuses across the US, including MIT, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Maryland, and Tufts University. On February 9, 2025, a protester carrying a Palestinian flag interrupted
Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...
's performance during the
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.


2024 presidential election events

Following the
2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel On October 7, 2023, Hamas and several other Palestinians, Palestinian militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza envelope of southern Israel, the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 ...
and the
Gaza humanitarian crisis Gaza may refer to: Places Palestine * Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea ** Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip ** Gaza Governorate, a governorate in the Gaza Strip Mandatory Palestine * Gaza Sub ...
, President Biden has faced sustained opposition and event disruptions from a vocal minority of progressives, Arab Americans, and Muslims over his handling of the conflict and the creation of a protest vote movement against him. At a campaign rally in Virginia on January 23, 2024, incumbent president Joe Biden was interrupted more than a dozen times by protesters calling for a ceasefire. The following day, he was interrupted by anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C., during an endorsement rally held by the
United Auto Workers The United Auto Workers (UAW), fully named International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and sou ...
. Following these protests, the Biden campaign took "extraordinary" steps to prevent pro-Palestinian protesters from interrupting the president, including avoiding college campuses, hiring private companies to vet attendees, and not disclosing his events' locations ahead of time. On March 10, a protester at a Biden campaign event interrupted his speech, stating, "You're a dictator, genocide Joe. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead. Children are dying." Protesters interrupted Biden speaking on healthcare in North Carolina, telling him, "Hospitals in Gaza are being bombed," to which Biden replied, "They have a point. We need to get a lot more care into Gaza." On March 28, Biden held a fundraiser for his presidential campaign at
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
, accompanied by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as other celebrities. Biden and the former presidents were repeatedly heckled during the event by pro-Palestine protesters, and a demonstration was held outside the venue to protest the Biden administration's policies in Gaza. According to
Within Our Lifetime Within Our Lifetime – United For Palestine (WOL) is a pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist activist organization primarily active in New York City. The organization was founded and is currently led by the Palestinian-American Muslim Nerdeen Kisw ...
organizer Nerdeen Kiswani, about 1,000 were in attendance. In April 2024, Biden cancelled a planned
Iftar ''Iftar'' () is the Fasting in Islam, fast-breaking Supper, evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of ' (call to prayer) of the Maghrib prayer. Iftar is the second meal of the day; during Ramadan, the daily fast begins immediately a ...
due to pushback from invited Muslim American attendees. At the 2024
White House Correspondents' Dinner The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the president of the United States. The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor ...
, protesters shouted "Shame on you!" at arriving attendees.


Pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses


Queer pro-Palestinian Protests

During
Pride parade A pride parade (also known as pride event, pride festival, pride march, or pride protest) is an event celebrating lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...
s throughout 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters counter-protested against celebration. Many often disrupted parades, leading to significant controversy.


Midwest


Illinois

An October 14 protest in Chicago called for the freeing of hostages taken by Hamas, peace for Israelis and Palestinians, and an end to all killings of civilians. On October 24, two men were arrested after one shot into the air and another
pepper-sprayed Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, mace, or capsicum spray is a lachrymator (tear gas) product containing as its active ingredient the chemical compound capsaicin, which irritates the eyes with burning and pain ...
pro-Palestinian demonstrators at an Israel solidarity event near Chicago. On Black Friday, about 1,000 protesters marched on the
Magnificent Mile The Magnificent Mile (sometimes locally abbreviated to the Mag Mile) is the approximately one-mile-long stretch of Michigan Avenue (Chicago), Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street (Chicago), Oak Street on the Near North Side ...
retail district to condemn violence in Gaza. Police shut down streets and snowplows were used to corral the protesters. On the day before Christmas Eve, a large car caravan organized by a pro-Palestinian group blocked the
I-90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain states, Mountain West, Great Pla ...
near
O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the primary international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, United States, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop, Loop business district. The airport is ope ...
. On New Year's Eve, hundreds of pro-Palestinian marched in Chicago, blocking the I-90 again, as well as the I-94. On January 5, 2024, protesters at
Chicago Union Station Chicago Union Station is an Inter-city rail, intercity and commuter rail terminal station, terminal located in the West Loop neighborhood of the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago. Amtrak's flagship station in the Midwest, Uni ...
demonstrated for a ceasefire. On August 19, thousands protested near the
United Center The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...
on the first day of the
2024 Democratic National Convention The 2024 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention, presidential nominating convention in which delegates of the Democratic Party (United States), United States Democratic Party voted on their party ...
. Some tore down security fences while more chanted "End the occupation now!" and "
The whole world is watching "The whole world is watching" was a phrase chanted by anti-Vietnam War demonstrators as they were beaten and arrested by police outside the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The event occurred and ...
!" as a nod to anti-Vietnam War protesters at the
1968 Democratic National Convention The 1968 Democratic National Convention was held August 26–29 at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Earlier that year incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced he would not seek reelection, thus making ...
in 1968.


Indiana

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests and demonstrations occurred on each side of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in
Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
on October 12, 2023. A pro-Palestinian protest took place on January 8, 2024, also at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, where nearly 30 people attended before increasing to about 60 people, after moving to protest outside United States senator
Todd Young Todd Christopher Young (born August 24, 1972) is an American politician, attorney, and Marine Corps veteran serving as the senior United States senator from Indiana, a seat he has held since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Young previou ...
's residence. On April 25, a pro-Palestine protest occurred outside the residence of state governor
Eric Holcomb Eric Joseph Holcomb ( ; born May 2, 1968) is an American politician who served as the 51st governor of Indiana, from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served from 2016 to 2017 as the 51st Lieuten ...
, which resulted in the arrests of fourteen people. Additionally, protesters obstructed Meridian Street in Indianapolis on the same day, which led to the
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is the law enforcement agency for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Its operational jurisdiction covers all of the consolidated city of Indianapolis and Marion County exce ...
threatening arrests on them. In September 2024, two people were charged with blocking the driveway of a
Raytheon Raytheon is a business unit of RTX Corporation and is a major U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. Founded in 1922, it merged in 2020 with Unite ...
facility in
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 United S ...
, giving letters to employees urging them to find a different use for their products. Charges were dropped in December.


Iowa

A pro-Palestine rally was held in Cowles Commons in downtown
Des Moines Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...
on October 10 with approximately 80 people attending. On October 25, hundreds of
Grinnell College Grinnell College ( ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, United States. It was founded in 1846 when a group of Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalis ...
students walked out demanding that the college stop any financial support of Israel. On November 4, more than 100
University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
students and community members from across Iowa gathered to rally for Palestine, calling for justice, peace and freedom from the oppression of Israel. On December 17, nearly 150 protesters gathered in two separate demonstrations in front of
Terrace Hill Terrace Hill, also known as Hubbell Mansion, Benjamin F. Allen House or the Iowa Governor's Mansion, is the official residence of the governor of Iowa, United States. Located at 2300 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, it is an example of Second Empire ...
, the official residence of the governor of Iowa,
Kim Reynolds Kimberly Kay Reynolds (née Strawn, August 4, 1959) is an American politician from Iowa. A Republican, Reynolds has served since 2017 as the 43rd governor of Iowa. She is the first female governor in Iowa history. Reynolds was elected Clarke ...
, as she was hosting a Christmas party. One demonstration was pro-Palestine, titled "No Justice No Christmas", while the other was in support of Iowa's Area Education Agencies (AEAs), with 40 people attending. Other protesters spoke out against recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state and a local drag artist performed.


Kansas

On November 14, 500 flags memorializing 10,000 Palestinians who died from October 7 to November 14 were placed on the lawn of Watson Library at the
University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...
. The event was organized by the Muslim Student Association and
Al-Hadaf KC ''Al-Hadaf'' ('), (') is a Palestinian weekly political and cultural magazine published in Gaza City, Palestine. Established in 1969 the magazine was headquartered in several cities, including Beirut and Damascus. History and profile ''Al Hadaf' ...
. The Muslim Student Association and Middle Eastern Student Association organized a student walk-out for Palestine on November 20 with the goal of the chancellor of the university, Douglas Girod, releasing a statement in solidarity with Palestinian people. On November 30, pro-Palestine activists organized a sit-in at Strong Hall on the University of Kansas campus and hung banners inside and outside of the building. Protesters called again for a statement from the chancellor and criticized the university's involvement in the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Originally known as the Adva ...
and U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation. Over 100 activists marched down
Massachusetts Street Massachusetts Street (often referred to colloquially as either Mass Street or Mass) is the main street that runs through the central business district of downtown Lawrence, Kansas. It begins just south of the Kansas River at Sixth Street and co ...
on March 2, 2024, calling for "hands off
Rafah Rafah ( ) is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Rafah Governorate. It is located south-west of Gaza City. In 2017, Rafah had a population of 171,889. Due to the Gaza war, about 1.4 million people from Gaza C ...
", for more humanitarian aid, and to vote
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in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primary. On the first day of
Chanukah Hanukkah (, ; ''Ḥănukkā'' ) is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Han ...
, December 7, around two dozen activists from Jewish Voice for Peace sat in Sharice Davids'
Overland Park, Kansas Overland Park ( ) is the largest city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and the List of cities in Kansas#Highest population listing, second-most populous city in the state of Kansas. It is one of four principal city, principal cities in ...
, office calling for a ceasefire and for more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Protesters carried signs saying, "Chanukah for ceasefire" and "Stop funding genocide".


Michigan

A group of pro-ceasefire activists gathered at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...
,
Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
, on November 7, resulting in three arrests for people who refused to leave the office of Representative
Hillary Scholten Hillary Jeanne Scholten ( ; born February 22, 1982) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative from Michigan's 3rd congressional district since 2023. She is the first w ...
. In Detroit, a Thanksgiving Day parade was interrupted by about 200 pro-Palestine protesters. On February 1, 2024, a group of
Arab Americans Arab Americans ( or ) are Americans who trace ancestry to any of the Arab immigration to the United States, various waves of immigrants from the Arabic-speaking countries. In the United States census, Arabs are racially classified as White Amer ...
protested against the arrival of Joe Biden for a campaign stop in Dearborn. On the 2024
Quds Day Quds Day (), officially known as International Quds Day (), is an annual pro-Palestinian event held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel and Zionism. It takes its name ...
(April 5), a pro-Palestine rally was organised in Dearborn (a city considered the capital of
Arab Americans Arab Americans ( or ) are Americans who trace ancestry to any of the Arab immigration to the United States, various waves of immigrants from the Arabic-speaking countries. In the United States census, Arabs are racially classified as White Amer ...
), where some protesters chanted "
Death to America "Death to America" is an anti-American political slogan widely used in Iran,Arash KaramiKhomeini Orders Media to End 'Death to America' Chant, Iran Pulse, October 13, 2013 Afghanistan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Pakistan. Ruhollah Khomeini, the f ...
" and "
Death to Israel "Death to Israel" (also "Down with Israel") is a political slogan against Israel, which is most often used in Iran. Every year, Iranian pilgrims sing the slogan of "death to Israel" during the Hajj rituals and the ceremony of disavowal ...
". The Al Quds Committee Detroit, who organised the rally, posted on Facebook that the chants were "wrongful" and "a mistake", but that they will also continue to criticise the
foreign policy of the United States The officially stated goals of the foreign policy of the United States of America, including all the bureaus and offices in the United States Department of State, as mentioned in the ''Foreign Policy Agenda'' of the Department of State, are ...
. Mayor
Abdullah Hammoud Abdullah H. Hammoud (; born March 19, 1990) is an American politician serving as the 7th mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Hammoud had previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives, repres ...
spoke at a Dearborn rally on September 24, 2024, immediately following activist
Osama Siblani ''The Arab American News'' () is a weekly bilingual newspaper representing Arab Americans published in Dearborn, Michigan, USA in Greater Detroit. It began publishing on 7 September 1984 and its publisher is Lebanese-born Osama Siblani. It i ...
. The two embraced as Hammoud joined Siblani on the stage. Siblani called to "return sraelisto Poland" and praised
Hezbollah Hezbollah ( ; , , ) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament. I ...
leader
Hassan Nasrallah Hassan Nasrallah (, ; 31 August 196027 September 2024) was a Lebanese cleric and politician who served as the third secretary-general of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political party and militia, from 1992 until his assassination in 2024. Bor ...
. Hammoud did not address the praise for the Hezbollah leader or the crowd's calls of "death to Israel", and did not respond to the media's request for comment.


Minnesota

On October 10, a pro-Israel solidarity gathering took place at the Beth el Synagogue in St. Louis Park. U.S. Senator
Amy Klobuchar Amy Jean Klobuchar ( ; born May 25, 1960) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Minnesota, a seat she has held since 2007. A member o ...
spoke: "They are trying to destroy Israel. We will not let that happen." On October 18, a large crowd gathered outside the
Minnesota State Capitol The Minnesota State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Minnesota, in its capital (political), capital city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul. It houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the offic ...
to support Palestinians in St. Paul. On October 22, in Minneapolis, a pro-Palestinian rally took place on the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge. A car drove through the crowd in the afternoon and a confrontation occurred. A man was arrested in
Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
after driving through a crowd of anti-war activists. On November 1, a protester interrupted a speech by
Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
in Minneapolis asking him to call for a ceasefire, leading him to respond that a humanitarian "pause" was needed. On November 11, hundreds of activists marched Cathedral Hill to the state capitol demanding a cease-fire. Seventy pro-ceasefire protesters demonstrated outside of Democratic presidential candidate and congressman Dean Phillips' office in
Minnetonka Minnetonka ( ) is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. A western suburb of the Twin Cities, Minnetonka is located about west of Minneapolis. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 53,781. Minnetonka is the home of Car ...
on December 6. Hundreds protested for a ceasefire outside Amy Klobuchar's office on January 8. On June 1, Twin Ports DSA held a rally outside Duluth City Hall. Speakers represented Palestinian, Indigenous, Muslim and Jewish viewpoints. They demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, repeal of the Minnesota Anti-Boycott, and Sanction Law and end of all aid to Israel. The group then marched to the
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is a multi-purpose arena and convention center complex located in Duluth, Minnesota. It was home to the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's hockey team from 1966-2010. The DECC is located on ...
where the
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Minnesota ( ) is a state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the south, and No ...
(DFL) was endorsing candidates and selecting delegates for the upcoming
Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...
.


Missouri

On November 6, more than 75 activists blocked the entrances to the
Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
plant in the
St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
suburb of St. Charles, where the company manufactures bombs that have been sold to the Israeli government. About 150 activists participated in a second protest, blocking entrances again on November 21. Pro-Palestine students at Washington University in St. Louis (Washu) staged a
die-in A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
to pressure the university to cut ties with Boeing. Student activists from
University of Missouri-St. Louis A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...
, Washu, and St. Louis University called for their universities to divest and disaffiliate with Boeing over the company's weapons manufacturing in a letter endorsed by seven student groups. About 600 Kansas City residents attended a pro-Israel rally on October 9. On October 15, hundreds of people gathered for a pro-Palestine protest at Mill Creek Park. On November 8, 30 activists associated with
Al-Hadaf KC ''Al-Hadaf'' ('), (') is a Palestinian weekly political and cultural magazine published in Gaza City, Palestine. Established in 1969 the magazine was headquartered in several cities, including Beirut and Damascus. History and profile ''Al Hadaf' ...
and KC Tenants held a sit-in outside Representative Emanuel Cleaver II's office calling for his support for the Ceasefire Now Resolution. On November 18, Cleaver called for a ceasefire, but did not sign onto the resolution. In February 2024, the
Girl Scouts Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of The Girl Guides ...
threatened to sue a Missouri chapter for making bracelets for starving children in Gaza, leading the chapter to leave the national organization.


Northeast

In Merrimack, New Hampshire, three protesters were arrested and charged with riot, sabotage, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct for a pro-Palestine protest that occurred at the offices of Elbit Systems, an Israeli "defense and homeland security business". On November 11, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near Biden's residence in
Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the List of municipalities in Delaware, most populous city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish colonization of the Americas, Swedish settlement in North America. It lie ...
, calling for a ceasefire and accusing him of genocide. On January 23, 2024, protesters outside a campaign event for Biden in
Manassas, Virginia Manassas (), formerly Manassas Junction, is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The population was 42,772 at the 2020 Census. It is the county seat of ...
, chanted "Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Genocide Joe". The
Council on American-Islamic Relations A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nation ...
called for a federal probe into violations of international law due to a real estate event planned at a synagogue in
Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...
, which would sell "stolen land" taken from Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied
West Bank The West Bank is located on the western bank of the Jordan River and is the larger of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the Gaza Strip) that make up the State of Palestine. A landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
. On December 3, pro-Palestine demonstrators protested outside of Goldie, a
falafel Falafel (; , ) is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter of Egyptian origin that features in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly Levantine cuisines. It is made from ground fava beans, chickpeas, or both, and mixed with herbs and spic ...
restaurant in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
. The Jewish shop owner was donating profits from the restaurant to Israel's Friends of
United Hatzalah United Hatzalah ("united rescue" in Hebrew: איחוד הצלה) is an Israeli volunteer-based emergency medical services (EMS) organization providing free service throughout Israel, with its headquarters based in Jerusalem. Its mission is to pro ...
, an emergency medical fund established in the wake of the October 7 attacks. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested protesting against the
Pennsylvania Treasury Department The treasurer of Pennsylvania is the head of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, an independent department of the commonwealth's government. The treasurer is elected every four years. Treasurers are limited to two consecutive terms. Pennsy ...
's investment in Israel bonds at the
Pennsylvania State Capitol The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania located in downtown Harrisburg. The building was designed by architect Joseph Miller Huston in 1902 and completed in 1906 in a Beaux-Arts style with de ...
.


Connecticut

A protest was held at the
University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system with its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two benefactors. In 1893, ...
's main campus in Storrs by the UConn SJP chapter. On April 19, 2024, a pro-Palestinian protest occurred on the campus of
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
in
New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
. Several days later, police arrested 45 protesters on the Yale campus. A pro-Palestinian protest was held outside the
Connecticut State Capitol The Connecticut State Capitol is located north of Capitol Avenue and south of Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. The building houses the Connecticut General Assembly; the upper house, the Connecticut Sen ...
in
Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
on April 10, 2024. In Middletown, ten protesters were arrested for blocking the entrance to the
Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney is an American aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies). Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation (especially ...
facility on April 15.


District of Columbia


Rallies

Jewish activists protested for a
ceasefire A ceasefire (also known as a truce), also spelled cease-fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions often due to mediation by a third party. Ceasefires may b ...
on October 16 at the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, saying
Kaddish The Kaddish (, 'holy' or 'sanctification'), also transliterated as Qaddish, is a hymn praising God that is recited during Jewish prayer services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the lit ...
, singing Jewish songs, and chanting "Not in our name". 49 were arrested: 16 for blocking entrances and 33 for crossing safety barriers. On November 15, the headquarters of the
Democratic National Committee The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the principal executive leadership board of the United States's Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party. According to the party charter, it has "general responsibility for the affairs of the ...
was evacuated by the
U.S. Capitol Police The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States with nationwide jurisdiction charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States an ...
during a pro-Palestine rally, organized, in part, by
IfNotNow IfNotNow is an American Jewish activist group that opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its membership demonstrates against politicians, United States policies, and institutions that support Israel's occupation, usu ...
, who reported that "police are being extremely violent" at the rally. Six officers were injured. On November 27, a group of more than a dozen state lawmakers and activists, including actress and former-gubernatorial candidate
Cynthia Nixon Cynthia Ellen Nixon (born April 9, 1966) is an American actress, activist, and theater director. For her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'' (1998–2004), she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supportin ...
, launched a
hunger strike A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance where participants fasting, fast as an act of political protest, usually with the objective of achieving a specific goal, such as a policy change. Hunger strikers that do not take fluids are ...
at the White House calling for a permanent ceasefire. On December 7, a group of doctors called for a ceasefire on
Capitol Hill Capitol Hill is a neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in both the Northeast, Washington, D.C., Northeast and Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast quadrants. It is bounded by 14th Street SE & NE, F S ...
. On December 11, a group of twenty Jewish senior citizens were arrested after chaining themselves to the White House fence in protest of the war. On November 4, 100,000 to 300,000 people participated in the " National March on Washington: Free Palestine", marking the largest pro-Palestine protest in US history. * * * The march called for a ceasefire in Gaza, with many protesters condemning Israel's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. It was organized by A.N.S.W.E.R., People's Forum,
Students for Justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP; ) is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1993, it has campaigned for the Boycott, Div ...
, and other organizations. It saw support from over 450 organizations, including
Democratic Socialists of America The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a political organization in the United States and the country's largest Socialism, socialist organization. Sitting on the Left-wing politics, left-wing to Far-left politics, far-left of the politic ...
,
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
,
IfNotNow IfNotNow is an American Jewish activist group that opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its membership demonstrates against politicians, United States policies, and institutions that support Israel's occupation, usu ...
, and the
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), formerly known as the US Campaign to End Israeli Occupation, is a Palestine lobby in the United States, pro-Palestinian advocacy group advocating for the State of Palestine, rights of Palestinians ...
. On November 14, 100,000 to 290,000 people participated in the "
March for Israel The March for Israel was a pro-Israel demonstration that took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2023. The rally was organized by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP) and the Jewi ...
" which called for the release of Israeli hostages and denouncing antisemitism. Israeli President
Isaac Herzog Isaac "Bougie" Herzog (; born 22 September 1960) is an Israeli politician who has been serving since 2021 as the president of Israel. He is the first president to have been born in Israel after its Declaration of Independence. Son of former Is ...
spoke to the crowd through video feed, and the march lasted about two hours, according to organizers; the
Jewish Federations of North America The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), formerly the United Jewish Communities (UJC), is an American Jewish umbrella organization for the Jewish Federations system, representing over 350 independent Jewish communities across North Ameri ...
and the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP; commonly Presidents' Conference) is the umbrella organization for the American Jewish community. Comprising 53 national Jewish organizations across the political spectrum, ...
. * * * * * * On January 13, 2024, thousands of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest as part of a worldwide day of protests against the war. On June 8, 2024, protesters held a "red-line" banner as thousands of people participated in a rally for ceasefire at the White House. The Biden administration slammed the "repugnant" rhetoric voiced at the rally, during which pro-Hamas and pro-
Hezbollah Hezbollah ( ; , , ) is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese Parliament. I ...
demonstrators called for jihad and the killing of Zionists. On October 5, 2024, more than a thousand protesters gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza prior to the one year anniversary of October 7. During the protest, an attempted
self-immolation Self-immolation is the act of setting oneself on fire. It is mostly done for political or religious reasons, often as a form of protest or in acts of martyrdom, and known for its disturbing and violent nature. Etymology The English word ' ...
took place when a journalist shouting about
misinformation Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Misinformation and disinformation are not interchangeable terms: misinformation can exist with or without specific malicious intent, whereas disinformation is distinct in that the information ...
set their arm on fire.


Staffers

On November 8, more than 100 US congressional staffers staged a
walk-out In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace and withholding labor as an act of protest. A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an o ...
, demanding a ceasefire. A group of 40
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
interns sent a letter to President Biden saying they would "no longer remain silent" about the
genocide Genocide is violence that targets individuals because of their membership of a group and aims at the destruction of a people. Raphael Lemkin, who first coined the term, defined genocide as "the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group" by ...
occurring in Gaza. Josh Paul, a senior State Department official, resigned in protest of the US policy toward the war. On December 13, more than 100 staffers from the
Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions invol ...
stated the department leadership had "turned a blind eye to the bombing of refugee camps, hospitals, ambulances, and civilians". The same day, more than three dozen staffers in the Biden Administration held a rally outside the White House calling for a ceasefire. On January 14, ahead of reports that federal employees were planning a walkout in opposition to U.S. government policy in Israel, Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the List of speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2023. A member ...
stated the
House Oversight Committee The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative United States congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one o ...
would "ensure that each federal agency initiates appropriate disciplinary proceedings against any person who walks out on their job". On May 15, Lily Greenberg Call, a special assistant to the Chief of Staff with the
Interior Department An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the i ...
became the first Jewish and fifth overall staffer to resign in protest of US support for Israel. Call alleged that Biden was using Jewish people to justify US involvement in the conflict.


Officials' homes

Protesters demonstrated outside
Antony Blinken Antony John Blinken (born April 16, 1962) is an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the 71st United States secretary of state from 2021 to 2025. He previously served as Deputy National Security Advisor, deputy national security advisor ...
's home accusing him of participating in genocide. On December 12, hecklers interrupted a speech by vice-president
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
, demanding she call for a ceasefire. A protest was held at
Lloyd Austin Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired United States Army four-star General (United States), general who served as the 28th United States Secretary of Defense, United States secretary of defense from 2021 to 2025. Before ...
's home on December 25. Protesters again demonstrated outside Blinken's home, encouraging passing cars to honk their horns. In late-January 2024, protesters began camping outside of Blinken's house in protest of the war.


Government buildings

On October 18, about 300 protesters were arrested at a Jewish-led pro-ceasefire demonstration inside the
Cannon House Office Building The Cannon House Office Building, often called the "Old House Office Building", completed in 1908, is the oldest office building of the United States Congress in Washington, D.C. A significant example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, it ...
. Three were arrested for assault. On October 31, antiwar protesters interrupted a
US Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...
hearing where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested billions of military aid for Israel. On November 3, a pro-Palestine group reported that 52 activists had been arrested for engaging in
sit-in A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. The protestors gather conspicuously in a space or building, refusing to mo ...
s in US Senate offices. On December 11, 51 protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Senate building were arrested. On December 19, protesters entered the
US Capitol Building The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in W ...
to protest against the war. On January 17, 150 members from Mennonites Action were arrested at a pro-ceasefire sit-in in the US Capitol. On January 14, 2024, protesters organized by
Code Pink Code Pink: Women for Peace (often stylized as CODEPINK) is a left-wing, anti-war organization registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) organization. It focuses on issues such as drone strikes, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Palestini ...
threw baby dolls covered in fake blood at the White House as part of the "National March 4 Gaza". In March 2024, protesters blocked
Pennsylvania Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue is a primarily diagonal street in Washington, D.C. that connects the United States Capitol with the White House and then crosses northwest Washington, D.C. to Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown. Traveling through So ...
in protest of Biden's
2024 State of the Union Address The 2024 State of the Union Address was given by the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, on March7, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time Zone, EST, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives, House of Representativ ...
, with one demonstrator stating, "No more genocide with our tax dollars". On July 23, a day before
Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who has served as the prime minister of Israel since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime min ...
was scheduled to address a
joint session of Congress A joint session of the United States Congress is a gathering of members of the two chambers of the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Joint sessions can be held on ...
, the US Capitol Police announced that they had arrested about 200 protesters wearing red shirts that said "JEWS SAY STOP ARMING ISRAEL" in the Cannon House Office Building. Jewish Voice for Peace, who organized the sit-in, claimed that at least 400 were arrested.


Aaron Bushnell

On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer, self-immolated outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., protesting Israel's assault on Gaza during the war. Bushnell filmed the protest and livestreamed it on
Twitch Twitch may refer to: Biology * Muscle contraction ** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation ** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction ** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle c ...
, and recorded as he walked up to the Israeli Embassy, saying "I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit to
genocide Genocide is violence that targets individuals because of their membership of a group and aims at the destruction of a people. Raphael Lemkin, who first coined the term, defined genocide as "the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group" by ...
. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at their hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal." When Bushnell arrived at the embassy gates, he set his phone down to film himself dousing his body in a clear liquid from a metal bottle. He then lit himself on fire while shouting "Free
Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...
". Multiple police officers responded to the scene and used
fire extinguisher A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which ha ...
s on Bushnell. He was transported by the DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. A vigil was held on February 27 in front of the Israeli Embassy to memorialize Bushnell.


Maine

On Black Friday 2023, the Maine Coalition for Palestine held a rally near a shopping mall in
Freeport Freeport, a variant of free port, may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Freeport, name of several space stations in the video game ''Freelancer'' (2003) * Freeport, a fictional town in the video game ''SiN'' (1998) * ''Freeport: The Cit ...
. On July 27, 2024, at least nine protesters were arrested during a christening event for the new
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer The ''Arleigh Burke'' class of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer centered around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function passive electronically scanned array radar. The class is named ...
, USS Patrick Gallagher, for blocking the road outside the
Bath Iron Works Bath Iron Works (BIW) is a major United States shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, founded in 1884 as Bath Iron Works, Limited. Since 1995, Bath Iron Works has been a subsidiary of General Dynamics, one of the world's largest ...
. Two were charged with obstructing a public way and the others were charged with criminal trespass. Police from Bath and Sagadahoc County arrested the group which had split off from a larger demonstration of about 75 people.


Massachusetts

The
Students for Justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP; ) is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1993, it has campaigned for the Boycott, Div ...
organized a protest at
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
in October, several days after numerous students were
doxed Doxing or doxxing is the act of publicly providing personally identifiable information about an individual or organization, usually via the Internet and without their consent. Historically, the term has been used to refer to both the aggregatio ...
for publicly supporting Palestine. A pro-Palestinian
die-in A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
took place at
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...
on October 18. A
proctor Proctor (a variant of ''wikt:procurator, procurator'') is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The title is used in England and some other English-speaking countries in three principal contexts: # In law, a proctor is a historica ...
in charge of overseeing freshmen was indefinitely relieved of his duties for participating. On November 9, Harvard Rabbi
Hirschy Zarchi Hirschy Zarchi is an American rabbi and ''Shaliach (Chabad), shaliach'' for the Chabad Hasidic Jewish movement. Since 1997, he has been the founder and head of the Chabad house at Harvard University, one of the largest Chabad campus operations in t ...
spoke at a demonstration to pay tribute to the hostages held by Hamas, saying that anyone who justified the October 7 attack was "not just an animal. You're below an animal. You're a monster". During a pro-ceasefire sit-in protest at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public land-grant research university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and was founded in 1863 as the ...
, 56 students and one university employee were arrested for trespassing. Students staged another die-in at the UMass Amherst on December 6. Anti-war student protesters at
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of modern technology and sc ...
were suspended for refusing to leave a campus building they were occupying. On Black Friday, protesters in
Somerville Somerville may refer to: Places Australia *Somerville, Victoria, a town **Somerville railway station * Somerville, Western Australia, a suburb of Kalgoorlie, Australia New Zealand * Somerville, New Zealand, a suburb of Manukau City, New Zea ...
targeted a PUMA store because the company provides equipment to the Israeli National Sports Teams. On
Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...
, President Biden was heckled by pro-Palestine activists in
Nantucket Nantucket () is an island in the state of Massachusetts in the United States, about south of the Cape Cod peninsula. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck Island, Tuckernuck and Muskeget Island, Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and Co ...
chanting "Free Palestine". On October 24, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in front of
Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engl ...
City Hall. On the same day, in Nantucket, protesters targeted a Christmas tree lighting attended by Biden and his wife. Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters rallied outside of a fundraiser for the Biden 2024 reelection campaign on December 5 in
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
. The demonstration was organized by the
Party for Socialism and Liberation The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) is a communist party, communist political party in the United States, political party in the United States. PSL formed in 2004, when its members split from the Workers World Party. PSL describes it ...
.


New York

On November 9, 2023, 200 Cornell students staged a
sit-in A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. The protestors gather conspicuously in a space or building, refusing to mo ...
to symbolize the lives lost on both sides of the war. On December 1, 2023, students at Cornell protested outside the office of university president Martha Pollack, holding a mock trial where they charged her with genocide against Palestinian civilians. In March 2024, a group of 24 individuals, including two staff members, were arrested and charged with trespassing for staging a sit-in on the Cornell campus.


New York City


= General protests

= On October 8, 2023, one day after 7 October attack, Hamas' attack on Israel, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied in Times Square, waving Palestinian flags, chanting "Resistance is justified", "Globalize the Intifada", "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", "By any means necessary", "Glory to our martyrs", and "Smash the settler Zionist state". Dozens of pro-Israeli protesters also organised a counter-protest, singing Hatikvah and chanting "Never again" and "The people of Israel live" in Hebrew. Tensions were high between the 2 sides, with pro-Palestinian protesters chanting "700", referring to the confirmed number of Israeli fatalities in the attack at that moment, while the pro-Israeli protesters called them "terrorists" and "murderers". On October 14, thousands demonstrated against the bombing in Gaza. A viral video from a pro-Israel protest showed several protesters explicitly calling for
genocide Genocide is violence that targets individuals because of their membership of a group and aims at the destruction of a people. Raphael Lemkin, who first coined the term, defined genocide as "the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group" by ...
against Palestinians. At Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, about 200 rallied on October 18 to draw attention to hostages held by Hamas. Protesters included many family members of hostages and local Jewish leaders. On November 6, around 500 protesters staged a
sit-in A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. The protestors gather conspicuously in a space or building, refusing to mo ...
at the Statue of Liberty, calling for a ceasefire. Protesters gathered in front of the New York Public Library on Thanksgiving Day. They clashed with police after being seen spray-painting Graffiti#Radical and political, graffiti on the building. Pro-ceasefire protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace shut down the Manhattan Bridge for hours on November 26. Protesters demonstrated at Rockefeller Plaza on December 25 to call for a ceasefire. Also on Christmas Day, pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with the NYPD and several were arrested. On December 28, a vigil for children killed in Gaza was held in Times Square. A "Flood the Bronx for Gaza" march was held in the Bronx. Protesters blocked several bridges entering Manhattan on January 8, as well as a tunnel-entrance for New Jersey-bound traffic. On October 14, 2024, about 500 protesters organized by
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
staged a sit-in outside the New York Stock Exchange as the market opened Monday morning. Multiple arrests were made. On April 24, 2025, April 2025 Brooklyn clashes, clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators erupted outside the 770 Eastern Parkway, Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in response to a visit by Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.


= Elected officials

= A group of
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
protesters, including children of Holocaust survivors, were arrested outside Senator Chuck Schumer's home for protesting against the bombings in Gaza. At Brooklyn College, Republican Party (United States), Republican New York City Council member Inna Vernikov of the New York City's 48th City Council district, 48th City Council District was arrested for bringing a gun to a counterprotest at a pro-Palestine rally. On October 24, a protest organized by the Bronx Anti-War Coalition took place outside of Rep. Ritchie Torres' office in Fordham, Bronx. Nearby, more than 500 pro-Israel protesters, including a large number of students at SAR Academy, organized at nearby Seton Park to support the Congressman's position. On December 15, protesters gathered outside Chuck Schumer's office, chanting, "Schumer! Schumer! You can't hide. You're supporting genocide." On February 7, 2024, Jewish protesters attempted to block Biden's presidential motorcade from attending a fundraiser with donors. On February 15, protesters interrupted Tom Suozzi's victory speech, chanting, "You can't hide! You're supporting genocide!"


= University protests

= On October 26, a group of anti-war students protested at Cooper Union. A group of Jewish students claimed they'd barricaded themselves in the library to hide from the "aggressive" protesters, but the New York City Police Department denied this, reporting that there had been "no danger" to the Jewish students. The account told by the Jewish students was repeated by elected officials and media accounts, including condemnations from the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (New York politician), Mark Levine. Anti-war student protesters at Columbia University reported experiencing targeted harassment. Students walked out of a class taught by Hillary Clinton in support of Palestine after her comments against a ceasefire. Pro-Palestine protesters heckled Clinton on November 29 at Columbia University's International Affairs Building and accused her of supporting
genocide Genocide is violence that targets individuals because of their membership of a group and aims at the destruction of a people. Raphael Lemkin, who first coined the term, defined genocide as "the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group" by ...
. In January 2024, students at a pro-Palestine demonstration at Columbia University were attacked with Skunk (weapon), Skunk. One victim, who claimed that Palestinian friends recognized the odor as Skunk, described it as having the smell of "poop mixed with decaying animal". Victims of the attack reported difficulty removing the odor from their clothes and other possessions, and that the effects of the spray including its odor, skin irritation, nausea, and dizziness continued days after the attack despite efforts to remove it. In response, demonstrators organized a protest outside the university. The incident was being investigated by the New York City Police Department as a potential hate crime.
Students for Justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP; ) is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1993, it has campaigned for the Boycott, Div ...
and
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
published a report in which they stated the perpetrators were former IDF soldiers and current Columbia students. At a pro-Palestinian rally held by students of Columbia University, protesters chanted "there is only one solution, intifada revolution", "Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around" (a pro-Houthi movement, Houthi slogan) and "NYPD, Ku Klux Klan, KKK, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, they're all the same". On April 17, the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation, campus occupation by student protestors at Columbia began, with protestors establishing the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment", which was dismantled by the NYPD but later set up again on another part of campus. Protests later spread to several other campuses, including Yale and NYU. On April 26, a Columbia student who had emerged as a leader of the protest movement was barred after declaring in a video that "Zionists don't deserve to live". Other protests groups condemned the comments, but the ''New York Times'' said they raised the question of "How much of the movement in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza is tainted by antisemitism?" The Columbia encampment and many other encampments at American university campuses were ultimately cleared by police.


= Institution protests

= On November 10, protesters staged a sit-in at ''The New York Times'', saying the newspaper was complicit in "laundering genocide". The CEO of the Legal Aid Society said a resolution by New York City public defenders to condemn the killing of Palestinian civilians was antisemitic. On December 7, Doctors Without Borders held a vigil outside United Nations headquarters in honor of the medical workers killed in Gaza. Thousands of members of US labor unions gathered on December 22 in support of a ceasefire. Rabbis for Ceasefire prayed for a ceasefire at the UN on January 9. Protesters demonstrated outside of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for its collaborations with Israeli medical centers. On February 11, protesters at the Museum of Modern Art and Brooklyn Museum called on the institutions to cut ties with donors who had ties to Israel. Protesters demonstrated against AIPAC at the lobby's New York office on February 23. On March 14, protesters blocked ''The New York Times distribution center. In April, ads on Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA subways were replaced with pro-Palestinian messages.


= Event protests

= On November 23, 2023, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Wearing white jumpsuits covered with fake blood, some glued themselves to the parade route along Sixth Avenue near 45th street. Protesters were reported at two other locations. Pro-Palestine demonstrators held a vigil and a rally outside the Rockefeller Center during the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Police clashed with protesters at Sixth Street and seven people were arrested. On March 28, pro-Palestinian protests occurred outside a Biden fundraiser at
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
.


New Jersey

On October 22, an "emergency rally for Gaza" was held in Paterson, New Jersey, Paterson. On October 28, a Princeton University staff member assaulted a pro-Palestinian protester at an off-campus event calling for ceasefire in Gaza. On February 12, protesters organized by "American Muslims for Palestine" interrupted an event inside Drumthwacket, the Governor's Mansion in Trenton where Gov. Phil Murphy was hosting a celebration of the lunar new year. The group demanded that the New Jersey-Israeli State Commission be disbanded.


Pennsylvania

On October 9, 2023, a pro-Israel demonstration was held outside the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, Wynnewood. On February 24, pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrations were held simultaneously in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, Lower Merion. The two groups largely avoided one another, though they briefly exchanged chants. In late April 2024, pro-Palestinian students set up protest encampments on the grounds of Swarthmore College, Swarthmore and Haverford College.


Philadelphia

In the immediate aftermath of the
2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel On October 7, 2023, Hamas and several other Palestinians, Palestinian militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza envelope of southern Israel, the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 ...
, most of Philadelphia's major Jewish institutions made statements in support of Israel, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Congregation Rodeph Shalom (Philadelphia), Congregation Rodeph Shalom, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Most pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Philadelphia were organized or supported by the Philly Palestine Coalition. The Coalition held its first pro-Palestinian rally since the start of the war on October 8. On October 12, pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside WHYY-FM, WHYY's Old City studio in protest of local media's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Large pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on October 21 and in Center City, Philadelphia, Center City on October 28. Multiple pro-Palestinian protests in late October were held outside the office of Senator John Fetterman. On November 2, around 25 pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested after blocking the entrances to several Amtrak gates during a larger demonstration at 30th Street Station. On November 9, pro-Palestinian protestors held a
die-in A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
at Philadelphia City Hall, City Hall. Another demonstration was held outside City Hall on November 17. Another was held on November 24. On December 3, pro-Palestinian protestors held a citywide demonstration with several stops, including Goldie, an Israeli restaurant owned by Michael Solomonov. Chants directed at the restaurant by protestors were condemned by politicians, including the Presidency of Joe Biden, Biden administration, Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator John Fetterman, Representative Brendan Boyle, State Representative Ben Waxman, and State Senator Nikil Saval. In their statements, politicians asserted that the restaurant was targeted for being Jewish-owned. The Philly Palestine Coalition denied this accusation, citing Solomonov's financial support for the Friends of
United Hatzalah United Hatzalah ("united rescue" in Hebrew: איחוד הצלה) is an Israeli volunteer-based emergency medical services (EMS) organization providing free service throughout Israel, with its headquarters based in Jerusalem. Its mission is to pro ...
, an emergency services organization partnered with the Israel Defense Forces, Solomonov's Israeli government-appointed role as a "culinary ambassador", and allegations by former Goldie employees that they were fired for expressing pro-Palestinian beliefs. On December 10, a pro-Israel rally was held at Congregation Rodeph Shalom. On December 14, pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested after blocking Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey), I-76 and the Spring Garden Street Bridge. On February 13, a large pro-Palestinian demonstration marched through Center City. On March 2, a pro-Palestinian protest, which began at City Hall, blocked the Benjamin Franklin Bridge for about 40 minutes. On March 3, a pro-Israel rally was held in Rittenhouse Square. On March 9, a pro-Palestinian demonstration marched from Rittenhouse Square to the Spring Garden Street offices of Day & Zimmermann, a defense contractor manufacturing weapons used in the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present), Israeli invasion of Gaza. On March 30, a protest was held in Center City with hundreds in attendance. 67 people were arrested for disorderly conduct after blocking I-676. On April 15, pro-Palestinian protestors engaged in a series of Tax Day actions intended to "block the flow of capital" and protest US taxpayer funding for Israel. Protestors slowed traffic and staged a car caravan funeral procession on I-95. They also blocked several highway ramps at Broad and Vine Streets and protested at City Hall, the IRS offices at 30th and Market Streets, and the Day & Zimmermann headquarters at 15th and Spring Garden Streets. On April 25, after a march from Center City to West Philadelphia, which passed through the campuses of Temple University and Drexel University, pro-Palestinian protestors set up an encampment on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. In the following days, the encampment grew in defiance of orders from the university administration to disband. Protestors vowed not to comply with ID checks by Penn police. A letter circulated by Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine in support of the encampment collected more than 1,200 signatures. Six people were arrested during a pro-Palestinian Independence Day (United States), 4th of July demonstration at City Hall, after protestors burned flags and scuffled with police. Several hundred protestors gathered at City Hall on the night of the 2024 United States presidential debates, 2024 presidential debate to protest the pro-Israel positions of both Donald Trump and
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
. Marching down Market Street, the protest made it to 4th Street before being hemmed in by riot police. Organizers told marchers to disperse, but a smaller number stayed behind and clashed with police.


Rhode Island

On November 9, 20 Jewish students were arrested at Brown University for occupying University Hall (Brown University), University Hall and demanding a ceasefire and Disinvestment from Israel, divestment resolution. Charges against the Jewish students were dropped after a Palestinian-American Brown University student was 2023 shooting of Palestinian students in Burlington, Vermont, shot and wounded in Burlington, Vermont. At a vigil for the injured student, protesters chanted “Shame! Shame! Shame!” at president Christina Paxson, leading her to leave the podium. On December 6, 41 protesters at Brown were charged with trespassing at University Hall for another sit-in protest to raise awareness about the same shooting in Burlington over Thanksgiving Break. On December 19, the university announced they would not be dropping the charges against the 41. In February 2024, students at Brown announced they would be going on a
hunger strike A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance where participants fasting, fast as an act of political protest, usually with the objective of achieving a specific goal, such as a policy change. Hunger strikers that do not take fluids are ...
to protest their university's complicity in the war.


Vermont

In Burlington, Vermont, large rallies were held in support of Israel and Palestine in October 2023. The Vermont chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Vermonters for Justice in Palestine held a pro-Palestinian rally. Governor Phil Scott, mayor Miro Weinberger and city council president Karen Paul attended a pro-Israel rally on Church Street organized by a coalition of local Jewish leaders. On November 9, protestors disrupted a fundraising event for Becca Balint, demanding that she call for a ceasefire. In April 2024, students at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College established protest encampments, urging their universities to divest from Israel.


South


Florida

At the University of Florida, Jewish students held a candlelight vigil. At the University of South Florida in Tampa Bay, at least 200 marched at an Emergency Rally for Gaza following an official letter from the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida directing all SUS Presidents to terminate all pro-Palestinian groups.


Georgia

In Atlanta, protesters gathered along the presidential motorcade route to Rosalynn Carter's funeral on November 28, calling on Biden to end all aid to Israel. A woman at the Israeli consulate in Atlanta self-immolated in protest of the war and was described to be in a "critical condition" on December 1. In late April 2024, at a protest at Emory University in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
, philosophy professor Noëlle McAfee and economics professor Caroline Fohlin were arrested by police, according to CNN; after Fohlin questioned the police's use of force against people she identified as students, she was taken down to the ground by police and handcuffed. In June, 28 Pro-Palestinian protesters rallied in Atlanta where the first 2024 presidential debate was being held between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.


Kentucky

In Kentucky, the Students for Justice in Palestine organized a protest at the University of Louisville.


Louisiana

During
Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...
's Super Bowl LIX halftime show, halftime show at Super Bowl LIX, held in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, one backup dancer stood on top of a Buick that was part of the performance and raised the Flag of Palestine, flags of Palestine and Flag of Sudan, Sudan. The protester was tackled by security and banned from all NFL events, though he was not charged with a crime.


North Carolina

Clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestine were reported at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in front of the Wilson Library on October 12. On Black Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina, people inside Crabtree Valley Mall made a false report to 911 that shots had been fired at a pro-Palestine protest. A large police response broke up the protest.


South Carolina

On January 8, 2024, Biden was heckled with chants of "ceasefire now" during a campaign speech at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Biden responded, "And I've been quietly working, I've been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza using all that I can to do that. I understand the passion."


Tennessee

On March 26, students at Vanderbilt University staged a sit-in at Chancellor Daniel Diermeier's office at Kirkland Hall after the school removed an amendment to prevent student government funds from funding Israel-supporting businesses. The amendment had garnered well over the required 600 student signatures. About 30 students partook in the protest and were forcibly removed the next day, 3 were arrested, including a reporter, and multiple faced suspensions and imminent evictions from student housing.


Texas

On November 12, thousands protested Texas's support of Israel in front of the Texas State Capitol, State Capitol in Austin. More than 80 musicians decided to boycott the 2024 South by Southwest, SXSW music festival because of the event's partnership with the US military and major defense contractors. The festival terminated its partnership with the US Army and the defense contractor RTX Corporation for its 2025 festival. On April 5, protesters gathered around Harris County Jail in Houston to demand the release of protesters arrested during a separate Al Quds Day demonstration.


West


Alaska

On February 24, about 150 protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, including indigenous elders and Juneau Assembly members Christine Woll and Paul Kelly, rallied at Marine Park in Juneau, Alaska, Juneau. On May 6, the Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution (8–4) calling for "a lasting peace in the Israeli-Hamas conflict". On May 18, about 100 protesters carrying signs calling for a ceasefire gathered for a rally outside of the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Governor Mike Dunleavy (politician), Mike Dunleavy had recently proposed a bill that would criminalize unpermitted street protests.


Arizona

At the University of Arizona, a rally protesting against the bombing of Gaza was cancelled due to safety fears after university president Robert C. Robbins criticized its organizing group and urged them to conduct their protest "peacefully, safely, and civilly". In March 2024, a young woman was dragged out of an event by security after interrupting Jill Biden by stating, "Jill, when are you and the president going to call for a ceasefire in Gaza?"


California

On November 18, 2023, the California Democratic Party, California Democratic Convention in Sacramento was cancelled after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters descended on the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. On December 5, a Holiday tree-lighting ceremony at the California State Capitol was postponed due to a planned protest organized by the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights. On January 3, 2024, hundreds of protesters from Jewish anti-war groups, including Sacramento City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela, shut down the California State Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento on the House's first working session of the new year. In June 2024, protesters hung a banner reading "Stop the Genocide" on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.


Greater Los Angeles

On October 9, thousands of demonstrators expressed solidarity with Israel on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, Beverly Hills. A University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA student demonstrating support for Palestine was reportedly threatened with a knife. On October 14, thousands protested against the bombings in Gaza in Downtown Los Angeles. On October 21, thousands of demonstrators protested Israeli airstrikes, denouncing Netanyahu as a "war criminal". On October 29, a pro-Israeli rally was held on Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica Beach. On November 4, hundreds of demonstrators marched to the Israeli Consulate in West Los Angeles, calling for an immediate ceasefire. In Thousand Oaks, a Killing of Paul Kessler, 69-year-old Jewish man named Paul Kessler died after sustaining head injuries following an altercation during dueling protests on November 4. On November 16, suspect Loay Alnaji was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter and battery with a preliminary hearing set for December 4. Protesters splashed red paint on the
Raytheon Raytheon is a business unit of RTX Corporation and is a major U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. Founded in 1922, it merged in 2020 with Unite ...
headquarters entrance sign in El Segundo, California, El Segundo. On Black Friday, hundreds gathered at Pan Pacific Park in the Fairfax District, Los Angeles, Fairfax District to attend a protest organized by A.N.S.W.E.R. to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. On December 7, the UCLA chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace held a "Chanukah for Peace" event. Over a thousand pro-Palestine protesters assembled outside Biden's December 8 campaign fundraiser event. Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD used the term "first amendment events" in regard to the protest, but declared the demonstration "unlawful" at 5:45 PM. On December 14, 75 Jewish protesters were arrested for blocking the Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California), 110 Freeway. On January 1, 2024, about 50 protesters calling for a ceasefire and "justice for Palestine" stopped the Rose Parade in Pasadena for 10 minutes. Khalid Abdalla wore a white armband and a dove pin to the 81st Golden Globe Awards to call for a ceasefire. Hundreds protested outside the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Grammy Awards calling a ceasefire, while singer Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire on stage. On February 12, hundreds protested the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza in a "Hands off Rafah" protest outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood, Los Angeles, Westwood. On March 10, about a thousand people blocked streets at the Dolby Theatre, delaying attendees' arrival at the 96th Academy Awards. The largest groups organizing the protest belonged to "Film Workers for Palestine" and "SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire". Celebrities at the event, including Oscar nominees and winners, wore Palestinian flag pins and red buttons distributed by an advocacy group called Artists4Ceasefire. On April 10, a student led group called ''Pomona Divest from Apartheid'' at Pomona College occupied an administration building. On May 27, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. On June 23, pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to block people from entering the main entrance of the Adas Torah synagogue, which was hosting a seminar about real estate in Israel and the West Bank. The demonstration deteriorated into violent clashes between the anti-Israel participants and pro-Israel counter-protesters. President Biden tweeted "I'm appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American." On October 5, hundreds protested in Pershing Square (Los Angeles), Pershing Square as the anniversary of October 7 approached.


San Diego

On October 15, hundreds demonstrated for Gaza outside the San Diego County Administration Center, San Diego County Administration Building. On October 21, hundreds of protesters organized by San Diego Coalition for Palestine shut down streets downtown. On November 9, hundreds protested outside the headquarters of defense contractor Northrop Grumman, Northrup Grumman demanding a ceasefire. Later that same day, medical students, staff and other workers at UC San Diego School of Medicine staged a solidarity walkout to protest the 2023 Gaza humanitarian crisis, public health crisis in Gaza. Both of these protests were part of the international "Shut it Down for Palestine" event. On Black Friday, marchers participated in a
die-in A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
at a mall in Escondido, California, Escondido. On December 2, around 125 pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a tree-lighting ceremony in Balboa Park (San Diego), Balboa Park. On December 23, protesters calling for a ceasefire marched through Balboa Park for two and half hours. On April 24, 2024, dozens of Jewish and Palestinian American protesters rallied in Balboa Park and then delivered letters calling for a ceasefire to United States House of Representatives, representative Sara Jacobs' home nearby. On October 4, about one thousand protesters marched in a pro-Palestinian rally in downtown.


San Francisco Bay Area


= Public figures and officials

= On October 16, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins posted and then deleted a post on Twitter, X where she called the demonstration of anti-war protesters a "pro-Hamas rally". During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC conference, protesters demonstrated outside a fundraiser attended by
Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
and
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
, demanding an immediate ceasefire. Dozens of
Code Pink Code Pink: Women for Peace (often stylized as CODEPINK) is a left-wing, anti-war organization registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) organization. It focuses on issues such as drone strikes, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Palestini ...
anti-war protesters gathered outside of Nancy Pelosi's home on December 3, calling for a ceasefire. 700 staffers at mostly progressive Jewish organizations published an open-letter to Biden, calling for a ceasefire. On January 29, 2024, Nancy Pelosi was filmed telling a protester to "Go back to China" after they asked her to a call for a ceasefire. On February 23, protesters marched inside the Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Hotel, where Joe Biden was staying during a fundraising trip, chanting, "Biden, Biden you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide". Protesters also demonstrated outside his fundraising event. On May 20, about 30 protesters demonstrated outside a Harvard Club (disambiguation), Harvard Club of San Francisco event that Nancy Pelosi was speaking at. One was arrested for disrupting the speech inside.


= Schools and universities

= On October 18, high school students across San Francisco walk-out, walked out of class in protest of the bombing of Gaza and to demand an immediate
ceasefire A ceasefire (also known as a truce), also spelled cease-fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions often due to mediation by a third party. Ceasefires may b ...
. Fremont High School (Oakland, California), Fremont High School in Oakland drew headlines for raising the Palestinian flag on the campus' main flagpole. Students at UC Berkeley hung a banner with the Palestinian flag on Sather Tower in an unauthorized protest. In the Central Valley (California), Central Valley, students at Stanislaus State, UC Merced and Fresno State held protests in late October. On April 22, students at Cal Poly Humboldt occupied an administration building "in solidarity with students across the nation...for Palestine". Arcata, California, Arcata City Councilmember Sara Schaefer called the massive police response "overkill".


= Rallies, protests, and marches

= In San Francisco, several hundred peaceful protesters marched on October 15 in support of Gaza. On October 19, the San Francisco chapter of
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
chained themselves to the San Francisco Federal Building in protest at Israeli actions in Gaza. On October 28, around 15,000 protesters marched in San Francisco, shutting down the Central Freeway for more than an hour. In advance of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, protesters marked a self-driving car with "Free Gaza". On November 5, a Jewish-led group of activists protested a gala for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California, San Carlos. Hundreds of anti-war protesters were arrested for occupying the Oakland Federal Building. On December 16, around 500 Google employees protested the company's $1.2 billion Project Nimbus contract with the Israeli military and government. On April 5, 2024, a rally organized by a group called "Vigil4Gaza" protested outside of the Palo Alto, California, Palo Alto City Hall. On April 17, nine Google employees were arrested on charges of trespassing after staging a sit-in at the company's Sunnyvale campus in protest against Project Nimbus. On June 3, seventy people were arrested for occupying the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest Region, Israeli consulate in San Francisco.


= Ports, roads, and bridges

= On November 3, 2023, 200 protesters at the Port of Oakland chained themselves to the US military supply ship MV Cape Orlando, MV ''Cape Orlando'' to prevent its departure to Israel. Anti-war protesters chained themselves together, blocking all traffic on the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. On December 6, hundreds of protesters laid children's shoes outside of the Golden Gate Bridge to symbolize children killed during the conflict. Afterwards, Interfaith dialogue, interfaith groups marched from both ends meeting in the middle to call for a ceasefire. One protester was arrested for climbing a flagpole and putting up a Palestine flag. Protesters demonstrating against the planned Rafah offensive blocked the Golden Gate Bridge on February 16, 2024. On February 21, protesters blocked U.S. Route 101 in California, Highway 101 to demand Biden to stop arming Israel and enact an immediate ceasefire. In March 2024, a group of activists built a sign in South San Francisco visible from airplanes taking off from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) calling for an end of military aid to Israel. Protesters at SFO shut down multiple security gates and roadways leading to the airport, holding banners that read "Stop Arming Israel". On March 31, protesters chained themselves to the USNS Harvey Milk, USNS ''Harvey Milk'' at Pier 32 in San Francisco.


Colorado

In May 2025, a pro-Palestinian protest was held in Denver against Congressman Jason Crow for repeatedly accepting campaign donations from executives of Palantir Technologies, which provides intelligence and surveillance services to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza war.


Idaho

In Boise, Idaho, Boise, protesters set up an encampment in front of the Idaho State Capitol in early May 2024. The encampment was removed by police several days later. On July 11, the director of the Idaho Department of Administration sued to repeal a 2014 injunction allowing "symbolic tents" at the Idaho Capitol Annex. Protesters organized by Boise to Palestine, Friends of Idaho, BSU Students for Palestine and the People’s University were named in the suit.


Montana

In Missoula, pro-Palestine protesters denounced neo-Nazis who had tried to join their demonstration at the Missoula County Courthouse and had called for Jews to be "stopped". Analysts said these actions were part of attempts of neo-Nazis and other far right groups to hijack pro-Palestine and anti-Israel events to promote anti-semitic and anti-immigrant ideals.


Oregon

On October 29, activists in Portland, Oregon, Portland protested against the war, asking US Senator Jeff Merkley to call for a ceasefire. Pro-Palestine students protested at Portland State University on November 8, calling for the university to cut ties with
Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
, which sells weapons to Israel. On November 17, Portland's chapter of the
Party for Socialism and Liberation The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) is a communist party, communist political party in the United States, political party in the United States. PSL formed in 2004, when its members split from the Workers World Party. PSL describes it ...
organized a protest that blocked the entrance to a Boeing manufacturing plant. On May 2, a group calling itself "Rachel Corrie's Ghost Brigade" reported that it had cut through a fence at a Portland police facility and burned 17 police cars. Rachel Corrie was an American activist who died in 2003 while protesting the IDF's destruction of Palestinian houses in Gaza; she was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer and died.


Washington

On October 29, hundreds demonstrated in Seattle's Pioneer Square, Seattle, Pioneer Square to support Israel's war on Hamas. On November 3,
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
activists in Seattle demonstrated outside the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, demanding US Senator Patty Murray to call for a ceasefire. On November 6, an estimated 300 people blocked the entrance of the Port of Tacoma to prevent longshoremen from loading suspected military equipment and weapons onto the MV ''Cape Orlando''. On November 11, a protest organized by the Samidoun blocked streets near Westlake Center in Seattle. On November 19, hundreds called for a ceasefire at the Space Needle. The rally was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace. On December 7, University of Washington police in Seattle detained 36 people for occupying an administration building with demands that the school stop funding Israel and Boeing. Protesters blocked and closed a highway on January 7, 2024. On March 13, protesters demonstrated outside the Aerospace and Defense Summit to oppose Boeing's military ties with Israel.


Territories

On January 27, 2024, protesters gathered outside the offices of Delegate James Moylan in Hagåtña, Guam, calling for a ceasefire. In Puerto Rico, several dozen protesters gathered to protest against Vice President
Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...
during her visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan on March 22, 2024. In the United States Virgin Islands, a protest march was held on Saint Croix on November 4, 2023.


Responses


Universities

On November 6, Brandeis University became the first private university in the United States to ban its student chapter of
Students for Justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP; ) is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1993, it has campaigned for the Boycott, Div ...
, saying that the leading factor in their decision was "the SJP’s support of militant group Hamas". A student spokesperson for the SJP chapter disputed this claim, calling it "unsubstantiated" and saying "we have not received any evidence that can lead to the suppression of our right to free speech." Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said that "None of the chants or slogans cited by Ronald D. Liebowitz, President Liebowitz come close to meeting the legal criteria for incitement or harassment," and that "Brandeis is punishing its students for nothing more than protected political advocacy." On November 10, Columbia University suspended its campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
for repeated violations of campus event policies, thus barring them from hosting events on campus. Columbia's decision was criticized by Naomi Klein and Noura Erakat. After
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
president Claudine Gay condemned the slogan "from the river to the sea", more than 100 faculty signed an open letter criticizing her censure. On December 14, Rutgers University became the first public university to suspend its campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine in response to complaints of disruptive behavior and vandalism. Donors to top universities in the United States withdrew millions of dollars in donations in light of the universities' responses to Hamas' offensive. On October 24, Ray Rodrigues, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida issued an order to disband all existing chapters of National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) in the system. Chapters at University of Florida and University of South Florida have filed federal lawsuits against several parties including Rodrigues and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ron Desantis on constitutional grounds over the move. On December 5, the Louisiana Department of Education opened a civil-rights investigation against Tulane University after a fight occurred at a pro-Palestine rally on October 26. American University announced it was banning protests inside university buildings. The Muslim Legal Fund of America sued Harvard University for failing to protect Muslim and Arab students from harassment. The American Civil Liberties Union published an open letter urging colleges not to initiate "baseless investigations" into pro-Palestinian student groups. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel), Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on November 25 it was forming a task force to combat "those generating antisemitism on campuses" in the United States. In February 2024, the ACLU signed a letter to US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona calling on him to reject redefining antisemitism to include political criticism of the government of the state of Israel, saying it would lead to First Amendment to the United States Constitution, First Amendment violations. After Bret Gustafson, a Washington University in St. Louis, Washu professor, posted online in support of a protest outside of the home of the president of AIPAC, the university stated that Gustafson's views do not reflect the university's, and that they would not tolerate "discrimination, harassment or threatening behavior". Jairo Fúnez-Flores, a professor at Texas Tech University, was suspended for his social media posts related to the conflict. Michel DeGraff, a professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was issued formal reprimands and denied a pay raise after he proposed to teach a course on language used to describe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Maura Finkelstein at Muhlenberg College was fired for reposting a post by Remi Kanazi on Instagram. Elizabeth Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned on December 9 following congressional testimony in which she asserted that the question of whether calls for an "intifada" or uses of the phrase "from the river to the sea" violate the university's code of conduct is a "context-dependent decision". In January 2024, Indiana University fired Abdulkader Sinno, a tenured political science professor, in response to political pressure from the state's Republican legislators. Students at Northwestern University faced criminal charges for publishing a pro-Palestinian parody newspaper under a law originally used to combat the Ku Klux Klan. The New York chapter of the ACLU told Columbia University that the university must reinstate its chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine or face a legal challenge for First Amendment violations. On March 12, the New York Civil Liberties Union and
Palestine Legal Palestine Legal is an advocacy group focused on defending people who support Palestinian rights. The group is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its founder and director is Dima Khalidi, a Palestinian born in Beirut and raised in the US. Act ...
sued Columbia University for banning the groups. Students in the United States have reported fears of losing future job opportunities for engaging in protests against military action in Gaza. By April 2024, hundreds of students had been arrested, suspended, put on probation, and expelled, including 50 students who had been arrested at Barnard. In June 2024, legislators in Pennsylvania introduced a bill that would block state funding for any college or university that divests from "commercial financial activity in Israel", unless it were for poor investment performance. In October 2024, the ACLU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch wrote a joint statement warning that law enforcement on 20 U.S. college campuses had used potentially excessive force against pro-Palestinian protestors, in violation of international law.


Doxxing

The Israel on Campus Coalition reportedly engaged in covert espionage against pro-Palestinian student organizations. Accuracy in Media sent doxxing trucks to Yale University, Yale and Columbia, displaying the names and faces of students under a banner labeling them "leading antisemites" on campus. Canary Mission published the identities and images of Harvard students involved in the issue of an open letter, published on October 7, that held "the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence".


Firings

Susan Sarandon was dropped in November 2023 by United Talent Agency in response to comments she made at a pro-Palestinian rally she attended that month; Sarandon later apologized for the phrasing of her remarks. A Google employee was fired for "interfering with an official company-sponsored event" after he interrupted Barak Regev by stating, "I refuse to build technology that empowers genocide." In May 2024, a nurse at NYU Langone Health was fired for calling the war a genocide. In October 2024, Microsoft employees were fired after organizing a vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza.


Political

Nancy Pelosi drew condemnation after suggesting that some anti-war protesters were being funded by Vladimir Putin and should be investigated by the FBI.
Abdullah Hammoud Abdullah H. Hammoud (; born March 19, 1990) is an American politician serving as the 7th mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Hammoud had previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives, repres ...
, the Democratic mayor of Dearborn, Michigan (a city with one of the largest Arab American communities), wrote: "So, based on Nancy Pelosi’s remarks, 76% of Democrats / 49% of Republicans / 61% of Americans are potentially paid operatives of Russia who are pushing Putin’s message of calling for a ceasefire?" In October 2024, the Heritage Foundation released a document titled "Project Esther: A National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism", which detailed a plan to go after what it termed the "Hamas Support Network", consisting of nonprofits and activist groups such as American Muslims for Palestine,
Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP; ) is an American Jewish anti-Zionist and left-wing advocacy organization. It is critical of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign ag ...
, and
Students for Justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP; ) is a pro-Palestinian college student activism organization in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1993, it has campaigned for the Boycott, Div ...
.


Lobbying

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee sent an email to its supporters asking them to email their senators in opposition to a measure introduced by US Senator Bernie Sanders to investigate Israel's human rights practices. On January 10, 2024, ''The Jewish Forward'' reported that the Anti-Defamation League was including pro-Palestine rallies in its tallies of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Civil rights groups American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Palestine Legal described the response to criticism of Israel in the United States as "McCarthyite".


Legislation

Senators Thom Tillis and Marsha Blackburn introduced the Safe and Open Streets Act to make it a federal crime to block a public road or highway, as a way to criminalize pro-Palestinian protests. The "Antisemitism Awareness Act", spearheaded by the Republicans but also backed by many Democrats, passed the United States House of Representatives in a 320–91 vote on May 1, 2024, and proceeded to the Senate. The bill is intended to add the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's approved working definition of antisemitism to title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits "exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination under federally assisted programs on ground of race, color, or national origin". Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs, who is Jewish, said she opposed the bill because "it fails to effectively address the very real rise of antisemitism, all while defunding colleges and universities across the country and punishing many, if not all, of the non-violent protestors speaking out against the Israeli military’s conduct." The proposed legislation would broaden the legal definition of antisemitism to include anti-
Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...
, criticism of the policies of the state of Israel, and concerns about Palestinian human rights, by categorizing all of that as hate speech, and it has been criticized for conflating "Judaism with Zionism in assuming that all Jews are Zionists" and automatic citizens of Israel rather than the U.S., thereby severely undermining genuine safety for Jewish citizens. It faces strong opposition from several Democratic lawmakers, Jewish organizations, and free speech advocates, including more than 800 Jewish U.S. academics, who signed a letter calling on Biden not to sign the bill. Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the centrist pro-Israel group J Street, said that his organization opposes the bill because it is an "unserious" effort led by Republicans "to continually force votes that divide the Democratic caucus on an issue that shouldn't be turned into a political football". The ACLU sees the bill as an attack on First Amendment rights and argues that its "overbroad" definition of antisemitism "could result in colleges and universities suppressing a wide variety of speech critical of Israel or in support of Palestinian rights in an effort to avoid investigations by the Department [of Education] and the potential loss of funding". Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Conference of Presidents have praised the bill, and it is based on definitions by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance that have been criticized by 100 Israeli and international civil society organizations that wrote to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in 2023 urging the UN not to adopt the definitions. In 2024, Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, New York passed a face mask ban, resulting in the arrest of a 26-year-old protester in September 2024.


Investigations

On January 24, 2024,
Palestine Legal Palestine Legal is an advocacy group focused on defending people who support Palestinian rights. The group is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its founder and director is Dima Khalidi, a Palestinian born in Beirut and raised in the US. Act ...
stated it had received reports of activists who had written social media posts "criticizing Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza" being visited by the FBI. In March 2024, faculty at the University of Pennsylvania sued the school to prevent it from sending documents related to pro-Palestinian protests on campus to Congress, stating they opposed the "new form of McCarthyism, in which accusations of anti-Semitism are substituted for insinuations of Communist leanings which were the tool of oppression in the 1950s".


Lawsuits

In May 2024, nine Israelis sued American pro-Palestinian advocacy organizations in federal court in Virginia for spreading "propaganda" in the United States. A lawyer for American Muslims for Palestine stated, "It is absolutely a threat to free speech, and it's a threat to free speech on any front."


See also

* Gaza war protest vote movements * Arab Spring * George Floyd protests * March for Our Lives * Occupy Wall Street * Vietnam War protests * List of US officials resigned over Biden's support for Israel in Gaza war * List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States


Notes


References


Further reading

* Serino, K
''Tens of thousands have joined pro-Palestinian protests across the United States. Experts say they are growing.''
PBS, December 15, 2023 * Lavietes, Matt
''Israel-Hamas war protests have disrupted Pride marches across the U.S.''
NBC News, June 28, 2024 {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaza war protests in the United States Gaza war protests in the United States, Protests in the United States Anti-war protests in the United States October 2023 in the United States November 2023 in the United States December 2023 in the United States January 2024 in the United States Presidency of Joe Biden Reactions to the Gaza war in the United States, *Protests Second presidency of Donald Trump