Thousands of pro-Palestine supporters converged on the White House on Saturday in a massive demonstration that turned violent, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The demonstrators shook the security fence violently and hurled bloodied dolls at the police and secret service agents, who quickly donned riot gear to push back the increasingly belligerent crowd.
According to video footage taken at the event, the frenzy of the protesters led to the shaking of the metal perimeter so hard that it shunted back portions of the fence, forcing the secret service to scramble parts of it to prevent a massive breach.
It was the second-largest rally in support of Gaza held outside the White House in Washington since the war began, as part of a global day of protests marking 100 days since the Hamas attack of October 7 that killed more than 1,200 and saw hundreds more taken hostage.
Women wearing Palestinian dresses staged a sit-down protest, cradling bloodied dolls bound in sheets. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and displayed signs questioning Joe Biden’s suitability as a presidential candidate due to his unwavering support for Israel. Some of the signs read: “No votes for Genocide Joe,” “Biden has blood on his hands,” and “Let Gaza live.” There also were chants of “F*ck Joe Biden.”
The protesters also chanted slogans in support of South Africa, whose allegations of genocide against Israel led the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands, to take up the case. Vendors were selling South African flags during the event.
Dan Devries, a New York resident, said he attended the protest because he wants to see a free Gaza but would not vote for either Biden or Donald Trump as he believed that the war was part of the US’s economic decline strategy. Washington protester Phil Kline held up a sign calling for Pope Francis to excommunicate Biden, adding that despite his intentions to vote for Biden in the November elections, there was no justification for bombing civilians.
