Hundreds of protestors staged a sit-in demonstration at New York’s Statue of Liberty on Monday afternoon demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
About 500 members and supporters of Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City (JVP-NYC) waved flags and banners and sang pro-peace songs, according to a spokesperson for the group.
Those present included the photographer, artist and activist Nan Goldin, who told the gathering: “As long as the people of Gaza are screaming, we need to yell louder, no matter who attempts to silence us.”
The protest came the same day as the Palestinian health ministry announced the number of Palestinians killed since 7 October in Gaza surpassed 10,000. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed during the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the recent conflict and more than 200 hostages taken. On both sides the majority of casualties are civilians.
It was also the second mass demonstration in the last 10 days in New York City staged by the group. On 27 October, hundreds of protestors in black shirts showing pro-ceasefire messages gathered at Grand Central Station.
Sarah Koshar, spokesperson for JVP-NYC, said the Statue of Liberty was a symbolic venue for Monday’s rally.
“My ancestors were greeted by the Statue of Liberty while escaping pogroms. While it is a symbol of refuge for my family, I am hauntingly aware that the US denied entry to Jewish refugees throughout the entirety of the Holocaust,” she said.
“From Ellis Island to Gaza, never again means never again – for anyone.”
Protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have gathered pace in recent days. On Saturday, tens of thousands attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington DC, while others marched in New York, Seattle and several other cities.
Nihad Awad, national executive director at the Council on American–Islamic Relations, said Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel during the conflict could prove costly at the ballot box when the president seeks a second term next year.
“The language that President Biden and his party understands is the language of votes,” he said.
“Our message is: no ceasefire, no votes. No votes in Michigan, no votes in Arizona, no votes in Georgia, no votes in Nevada, no votes in Wisconsin, no votes in Pennsylvania,” he added, listing swing states crucial to Biden’s hopes of staying in the White House.
