Jewish protestors call for ‘no US funding for Israel’s genocide in Palestine’
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California lawmakers faced disruption at the State Capitol as hundreds of Jewish protesters gathered, calling for an end to Israel's conflict with Hamas. The Assembly session came to a halt as demonstrators, numbering at least 250, chanted "Cease fire now," prompting legislators to exit the chamber.
The protesters, filling the Capitol rotunda, unveiled a banner declaring "No U.S. Funding for Israel’s Genocide in Palestine." They also crafted paper flowers symbolizing the more than 22,000 Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict that ignited when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties and 240 hostages.
While the Senate carried on with its proceedings, Assemblyman Mike Gipson expressed support for the protesters but emphasized the need to prioritize legislative business for the entire state of California.
Meanwhile, Assembly Republicans introduced a resolution condemning Hamas, and the Legislature's Jewish Caucus urged the formation of a special committee on antisemitism in California.
The protests, organized by groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, drew approximately 400 to 500 participants, with around half identified as Jewish.
Amid the demonstration, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel highlighted a perceived sense of being caught between the far right and left, with both extremes allegedly viewing Jews as a common target.
In a Capitol hallway, as Gabriel and Senator Scott Wiener addressed reporters, protesters in the rotunda accused Wiener of genocide. Wiener, denouncing the claim as "disgusting and false," emphasized the importance of supporting Israel's existence without being labelled as supporting genocide.
The protest concluded peacefully after about two hours, with Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher condemning "pro-Hamas radicals" for disrupting government proceedings and silencing elected representatives. Gallagher underscored the right to protest but emphasized the importance of not impeding elected officials from conducting the people's business.
As the California Capitol becomes a focal point for the complex politics surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, the generational divide in the state's electorate and the Democratic party's internal schisms over the U.S. response to the war come into sharp focus. The situation highlights the challenges faced by lawmakers in addressing a divisive global issue within the confines of state politics.
