Hundreds of protestors descend on Pennsylvania capitol to demand state divest $56 million from Israel – with up to 200 detained for failing to disperse
Hundreds of protesters forced their way into the Capitol building in Pennsylvania to demand the state divest $56 million from Israel, before arresting 200 people for failing to disperse.
Protesters descended on the Capitol on Monday and marched into the main rotunda, wearing masks and black T-shirts with the words “Divest from Genocide.”
Holding banners and leading chants, they blocked the main staircase until state police arrived and told them to “leave now or be arrested.”
Jewish Voice for Peace organizers told local news station WGAL that 186 protesters were arrested or ticketed, many for failure to disperse.
Jewish Voice for Peace wrote on Facebook: ‘More than 200 PA residents from across the state disrupt the first day of the PA Senate session, calling on the state to return the $56 million in Israeli bonds that the treasury has purchased, to repel.’
Protesters blocked the steps in the Capitol’s main rotunda and held banners calling on the state to ‘move away from genocide’
Police arrived and told protesters to “leave now or be arrested” before tying their hands with zip ties and leading them away
They added: “As Pennsylvanians, we work hard every day to invest in our communities and improve the lives of our families and neighbors – and our government should do the same.
“But instead of investing in improving our communities, elected officials in Pennsylvania are pandering to special interests by investing our tax dollars in genocide and war, irresponsibly investing millions in Israeli bonds.
Video from inside the Capitol showed protesters chanting “Free, free, free Palestine.”
State police arrived and declared an unlawful assembly and told the protesters to leave immediately.
As the crowd stood and continued to cheer and chant, officers began leading protesters away, restraining their hands with zip ties.
The protesters appeared to remain calm, with many continuing to chant even as they were led away.
One video showed Rep. Christopher Rabb intervening with police, telling officers to stop making arrests, saying “this is a public place” and asking “who has the authority to make this doing?’
One officer begged him to “help me get them out of here.” You have to go.’
The officer then says on his radio, “I need all available officers to the Rotunda, mass arrest, mass arrest.”
He then shouts to the crowd, “Leave now or be arrested.”
The crowd starts cheering and doesn’t seem to be afraid of being arrested.
Local news reported that 186 protesters were arrested or ticketed, mainly for not dispersing
Rep. Rick Krajewski also joined the protesters and led a chant of “ceasefire now.”
He wrote on X after: ‘We should focus our public resources on schools, housing and public transportation – not on war and genocide.”
The protest came after Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced in October that her department would invest an additional $20 million in Israeli bonds, bringing the total held by the state to $56 million.
She said at the time: “Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and I will always stand by their side.
“Israeli bonds are a smart, reliable investment with a proven track record – and it is especially important to show our support at a time when the people of Israel are facing horrific terrorism.”
The demonstrators called on the state to get rid of Israeli bonds and invest in housing, schools and the climate
Protesters were led away by police with their hands tied with zip ties
Police shouted at protesters to ‘leave now or be arrested’
She added after the meeting on Monday: “Simply put, if Hamas stopped fighting today, there would be no more war.
“If Israel stopped fighting today, there would be no Israel anymore.”
After the protest ended, Jewish Voice for Peace wrote: “This money directly enables the Israeli military and government to commit genocide against Palestinians and oppress Palestinians by maintaining a brutal, segregated and unequal system of apartheid.
“Pennsylvanians want our government to invest in our communities, not in genocide and war.
“While hundreds were in the state capital of Harrisburg, a crowd of more than 200 additional PA residents, led by Muslim, Arab and Palestinian community and faith leaders, demonstrated outside the capitol building.”
DailyMail.com contacted Pennsylvania State Police and Jewish Voice for Peace for comment.