NEW YORK- Over 500 people, including several from the Hudson Valley, marched to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) Park Slope home calling on the Senate Majority Leader to end U.S. military funding of Israel. The march was organized by the New York City Chapter of the Jewish Voice for Peace.
“The peace I and so many of us are praying for,” said Rabbi Miriam Grossman of Brooklyn addressing the crowd, “is a just peace with full human rights for all Palestinians.”
Senator Schumer recently traveled to Israel, along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other members of Congress, where they met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu. Following the meeting, Schumer offered his “fullest support” to the Israeli government.
“What we are witnessing is not a ‘cycle of violence,’” said Eve Feldberg, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, “but rather a military superpower against an occupied people. Make no mistake — the Israeli government’s oppression of Palestinians is the root cause of every violent death.”
The protest outside of Schumer’s home sparked a counter protest from individuals in support of Israel, who disputed the notion that the nation is an aggressor. Counter-protesters flew Israeli flags and held signs that read “Israel we stand with you.” Their attempt to counter the main rally fell flat as speakers with the main rally continued to lead chants that loudly, and sometimes profanely, denounced Schumer, Israel, and the funds sent to support the Israeli military each year.
Protesters were calling for an end to the $3.8 billion in military funding that the United States sends to Israel annually. More than one speaker at the event spoke about themselves and the coalition that had gathered as being comprised as individuals who were both Jewish, and anti-Zionist.
“Today forward there will be a cost for politicians who don’t speak up for Palestine,” said New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.
“Until Palestinians are free neither are we. $3.8 billion is killing both Palestinians abroad and Americans who can’t afford health insurance,” said State Senator Jabari Brisport.
“As Jews who support freedom and dignity for all people, no exceptions, we will not just sit in horror as the state of Israel carries out ethnic cleansing in our names,” said Jay Saper, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace. “We are calling for an end to all US military funding to Israel now.”
A photo essay of the event, which took place on March 5, 2023 at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, was provided to Mid-Hudson News by Sullivan County photojournalist Jonathan C. Hyman. Photographs © Jonathan C. Hyman followed by Mid-Hudson News:
