As President Joe Biden geared up to deliver his 2024 State of the Union address on Thursday night, a group of Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets, determined to disrupt proceedings and impede the president's route from the White House to the Capitol.
The impassioned demonstrators, numbering in the hundreds, gathered outside both locations, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and showcasing their unwavering support for Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel and Hamas.
Protesters Calling for Gaza Ceasefire Block DC Intersection
Approximately 100 protestors amassed at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and 3rd Street in Washington, D.C., an hour before Biden's scheduled speech, prompting road closures. Among them, a protester held a sign reading, "Biden's legacy is genocide." Simultaneously, a large Palestinian flag was unfolded, serving as a center point around which demonstrators congregated.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicated its vigilance regarding First Amendment activity at the location. As of now, no arrests have been reported.
The protests compelled Biden's motorcade to opt for an alternative path from the White House to the Capitol, as per CNN's report. The President, poised to secure the Democratic nomination in November, faces escalating dissent from the left wing of his party.
Activist Democrats decry Biden's reluctance to unequivocally support a Gaza ceasefire. This discontent has manifested in primary results, with a faction of Democratic voters casting ballots for "uncommitted" to express their disapproval of the president's stance towards the ongoing conflict.
Israel-Hamas Conflict: Toll Rises, Pressure Mounts on Biden
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
According to the United Nations, more than 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, while 2 million have been displaced internally, with hundreds of thousands facing the looming threat of famine.
The demonstrations underscore the mounting pressure Biden faces within his party and the public to address the Gaza crisis.
Biden's support for Israel has attracted criticism from the public. However, in an attempt to assuage discontent, Biden has been announcing plans to airdrop supplies to Gaza and to construct a temporary floating port off the region to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians.
The incident marks the five-month milestone of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. While Israel maintains its actions are in self-defense against Hamas aggression, protesters in the US accuse Israel of perpetrating violence against Palestinians.
