A coalition of advocacy groups plans to rally outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to protest a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to descend on Washington tomorrow for a nationwide rally calling for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” organizers with the group told The Hill.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Parliament at 2 p.m.
Dozens of senior Democratic lawmakers will not be attending the speech, including Vice President Harris, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Harris is on a previously scheduled trip to Indiana, while others have opted to skip the speech.
The protest is being organized by Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism (ANSWER) and is backed by hundreds of groups across the country, said ANSWER spokeswoman Zoe Alexandra, who said ANSWER was founded in 2001 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has helped organize large-scale anti-war protests in the US.
The march will begin at 11 a.m. at Third Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Protest organizers say buses will be transporting protest groups from as far away as Indiana, Georgia and Illinois.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, United Auto Workers Executive Committee member Brandon Mancilla, American Postal Workers President Mark Dimondstein and actress Susan Sarandon are scheduled to speak at the rally outside the Capitol.
In addition to ANSWER, more than 10 organizations are co-sponsoring the event, including Jewish Voice for Peace, CODE PINK, the American Palestinian Community Network, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), People’s Forum, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“The millions of people who have taken to the streets and polling stations to demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to military funding for Israel are making it clear that there can be no return to the status quo,” USCPR Executive Director Ahmad Abu Zunayed said in a statement.
“The United States is the largest funder and supporter of the Israeli military, sending at least $17.9 billion in weapons to Israel in 2024 alone, and is deeply involved in genocide. If Biden is worthy of being a leader, he will stop funding genocide and hand over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the ICC. The Lemkin Institute demands“Referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC), he added:
The coalition also criticized the U.S. Capitol Police, who set up physical barricades around the Capitol building in anticipation of protests.
“It is shameful that taxpayer money is being used to turn the Capitol into a Netanyahu fortress. Millions of dollars have been spent to fortify the area so genocidal war criminals can feel safe. But we will not be intimidated and are determined to exercise our First Amendment rights,” ANSWER national director Brian Becker said in a statement to The Hill.
Capitol Police Announced A series of related road closures around the Capitol.
“The USCP expects large numbers of protesters. While police respect everyone’s First Amendment rights, all demonstrations must be peaceful and lawful. It is unlawful to cross police established boundaries, such as the bike rack barriers the USCP uses around the Capitol,” police said in a statement.
The protest is expected to be the largest anti-Netanyahu protest to take place as Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses parliament, but other protests are also planned around the city.
T’ruah, a rabbinical organization that advocates for human rights, It will be held They will be holding “Shaharit for Peace and Justice” at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Union Station Plaza.
UnXeptable will be hosting a “No Support for Netanyahu” protest outside the U.S. Capitol at Delaware Avenue and First Street NE at noon, and the Peace Bloc will also be hosting a Netanyahu protest on the Capitol grounds at 1 p.m.
On Tuesday, a group of protesters also occupied the Cannon House Office Building.
