The 2023 Democratic National Committee protests were a pro-Palestine protest turned violent.[8] The protest organizers, the Jewish Voice for Peace and the IfNotNow movement as well as other Pro-Palestinian protesters arrived outside the DNC building on 430 South Capitol St. SE at 6:40 pm after a candlelight vigil at 3rd Street and Maryland Avenue SW.[5] The protest forced Capitol Police to shut down several roads in the area as officers tried to deal with the protesters.[9]
| 2023 Democratic National Convention protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States | |||
| Date | 15 November 2023 (6:40 pm to 10 pm) | ||
| Location | (N 38° 53' 2.6484", W 77° 0' 30.942") | ||
| Caused by | 2023 Israel–Hamas war | ||
| Goals |
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| Resulted in | |||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Unknown | |||
| Number | |||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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The protests also showed a clear divide within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Hamas war and a clear divide within U.S. President Joe Biden's voter base.[10][11][12]
Protest
The protests started on 15 November 2023 at around 6:40pm, the protesters went to the DNC building on 430 South Capitol St. SE and blocked the entrances to the DNC while Democratic representatives and candidates, including House Minority Leader Suzan DelBene, the chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell were inside the building for a campaign reception.[13][14] About 10 members were inside the headquarters at the time of the protest, and were meeting with House candidates who were in town for training and connections.[13] The protesters were chanting Pro-Palestinian slogans and wore black shirts that read "Cease Fire Now". The protestors called for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to American military support to Israel, and the establishment of a "Free Palestinian State".
As the protest continued, Capitol Police arrived on scene and shut down multiple roads in order to try and contain the situation. At 8:38 pm ET they said that: "Right now our officers are working to keep back approximately 150 people who are illegally and violently protesting in the area of Canal Street and Ivy Street, SE. Officers are making arrests.[15] All Members have been evacuated from the area. Please stay away from the area". Videos on social media showed protesters trying to grab hold of metal barricades as the officers moved in to make arrests.[1]
IfNotNow posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that "police are being extremely violent." They also posted: "We are linking arms, threatening no one, and begging our politicians to support an end to the killing and the suffering in Gaza. Begging, peacefully, for a ceasefire". Capitol Police used pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Fist fights were also seen on videos posted to social media.[16] According to Capitol Police, an officer reportedly witnessed a protester "slam another officer into a garage door and then punched the female officer in the face."[6] Inside the Democratic headquarters, police rushed into the reception and directed lawmakers to the basement, according to California democratic representative Brad Sherman, some people were later evacuated in police vehicles.[17] By 10 pm, the Capitol Police said that all house buildings had returned to normal operations.[2]
Aftermath
On 16 November 2023 IfNotNow claimed on their X account that 90 protesters were injured and posted a video from the protests.[4] The Washington Post reported that at least 100 protesters had suffered injuries after being pepper-sprayed and pushed by police.[5] At least 1 protester was arrested and other 1 protester, a 24 year old from New York was charged with assault on an officer.[6] Officers later indicated that they were not more arrests as they were working to hold the police line.[18] Politico compared the protests to the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests.[19]
Response
Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) posted on social media that he had been evacuated from the DNC "after pro-terrorist, anti-#Israel protesters" became violent and assaulted police officers.[20] IfNotNow claimed that their actions were peaceful and the Capitol Police were the ones who were violent. Spokesperson Eva Borgwardt sited Shermans account in a statement, calling it inaccurate and that his comments were "dangerous and reckless".[20][21] Democratic leadership released a statement said that "Protesters escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration".[22] The political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Beth Miller stated that "hundreds of peaceful anti-war activists" had been met with "brutal assaults by the police" while calling on Democrats to decide what side of the conflict they stand on.[13] American Muslim writer and civil rights scholar Omar Suleiman said on his X account: "Unbelievable. Capitol police throwing protestors shouting not in our name and calling for a ceasefire down the steps of the Democratic National Headquarters. Good luck in 2024 y’all".[23]
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called into a DNC and campaign staff meeting on November 16 and expressed appreciation for law enforcement, and thanked staffers and offered holiday wishes for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.[13]
References
- ^ a b "Capitol officers injured in clash with group protesting 'violently' outside DNC". ABC7 Los Angeles. November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Ted (November 16, 2023). "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Clash With Police Outside DNC Headquarters, Rep. Brad Sherman Says He Was Among Those Evacuated".
- ^ The U.S. Capitol Police [@CapitolPolice] (November 15, 2023). "ROAD CLOSURES: South Capitol Street between Canal and E Streets, SE. Ivy Street between Canal Street and New Jersey Avenue, SE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c IfNotNow [@IfNotNowOrg] (November 16, 2023). "On November 15, Jews and allies led a peaceful vigil and act of civil disobedience calling on Democrats to support a ceasefire. Without warning, police brutally attacked nonviolent protesters, injuring over 90" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Javaid, Maham; Williams, Clarence (November 16, 2023). "Protest outside DNC headquarters in Washington turns violent". Washington Post.
- ^ a b c d Trujillo, Briana; Lynch, Tom (November 16, 2023). "1 arrested after pro-Palestinian protesters clash with Capitol Police outside DNC headquarters". Associated Press – via NBC Washington.
- ^ "Six police officers injured at anti-Israel rally near DNC | Fox News Video". Fox News. November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Police and protesters clash outside Democratic HQ during a demonstration over the Israel-Hamas war". AP News. November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Protest Turns Violent Outside DNC Headquarters In DC (DEVELOPING)". Arlington Daily Voice. November 15, 2023.
- ^ "The protests outside DNC headquarters signal the divides in Biden's base over Israel-Hamas war | CityNews Toronto". Associated Press – via toronto.citynews.ca.
- ^ "The protests outside DNC headquarters signal the divides in Biden's base over Israel-Hamas war". ABC27. November 16, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Weissert, Will; Megerian, Chris; Cappelletti, Joey (November 17, 2023). "The protests outside DNC headquarters signal the divides in Biden's base over Israel-Hamas war". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Lee, JiMin (November 16, 2023). "Top House Democrats evacuated from DNC headquarters as police clash with protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire | CNN Politics". CNN.
- ^ "Police and protesters clash outside Democratic Party HQ during demonstration against war in Gaza". PBS NewsHour. November 16, 2023.
- ^ "CapitolPolice status Twitter". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ "Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and Capitol Police clash near DNC headquarters" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-11-15/police-making-arrests-after-protest-turns-violent-outside-democratic-national-committee-hq
- ^ Lee, JiMin (November 16, 2023). "Top House Democrats evacuated from DNC headquarters as police clash with protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Violent clash at DNC headquarters in DC sparks concern over Chicago convention security - POLITICO".
- ^ a b Cohen, Rebecca (November 16, 2023). "Police and pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash at DNC headquarters". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "US Capitol police clash with protesters demanding Gaza ceasefire". November 16, 2023 – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ Yang, Maya (November 16, 2023). "Democratic leadership says ceasefire protest 'exceeded a peaceful demonstration' and commends police amid activist criticism – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Dr. Omar Suleiman. "Unbelievable. Capitol police throwing Jewish protestors shouting not in our name and calling for a ceasefire down the steps of the Democratic National Headquarters". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved December 5, 2023.