WASHINGTON (EFE).— The United States Capitol Police (USCP) arrested some 200 people yesterday for protesting in Congress against the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is giving a speech in the legislature today.
“Approximately 200 people were arrested for protesting inside the Cannon House building. Protesting inside congressional buildings is illegal,” the USCP noted in X.
Netanyahu was invited by congressional leaders Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mike Johnson.
During his visit to the United States, he will meet with President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic candidate for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House.
Yesterday’s protest took place in the iconic Congress rotunda, with dozens of people called by the organization “Jewish Voices for Peace” wearing red t-shirts with the message “not in my name.”
Protesters also carried signs reading “Jews tell Congress: Stop arms shipments to Israel” and “No one is free until everyone is free.”
After several warnings to abandon the protest, the Congressional Police began to arrest the protesters.
Numerous protests are expected today against Netanyahu’s presence in the federal capital, which has tightened security measures.
The State Department, on the other hand, yesterday played down the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, announced for the day after tomorrow, considering it to be a routine event.
“It is quite common for heads of state of foreign countries to meet with political parties and presidential candidates while in the United States,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington the day before yesterday, invited by Congressional leaders, Republican Mike Johnson and Democrat Chuck Schumer, to give a speech today before the legislature.
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2024-08-04 17:23:13
