Dozens stood outraged in front of Connecticut’s Old State House on behalf of a territory across the world on Monday afternoon.
“Enough is enough! What is happening in Palestine today is a shame,” said one man into a megaphone.
The more than 60 Palestine supporters are fed up with what they call “Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians.”
“Over the last 13 years, it’s been documented that a Palestinian dies every three days at the hands of an Israeli soldier or settler,” said Stanley Heller, executive director of the Middle East Crisis Committee.
Monday’s protest comes on the heels of a deadly week overseas. Three Israeli teens were killed in the West Bank. Their murders are blamed on Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Not long after, a Palestinian teen was murdered and another boy was severely beaten near Jerusalem. Some said Israelis did it as revenge.
“As an American Jew, I condemn that,” said Liz Aaronsohn, who is part of a group called We Refuse to Be Enemies. She said she’s mourning all of the dead teens.
“Those are mothers’ sons. But so are the Palestinian children and the children of Gaza. Being bombed indiscriminately again and again and again by Israeli military? They’re all civilians, all of them,” Aaronsohn said.
“Long live Palestine! Long live Palestine! Free Palestine! Free Palestine,” the protestors shouted, calling for an end to violence and a free Palestinian state.
But soon, another chant rang out, “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!”
They’re also demanding the United States suspend aid to Israel.
Anyssa Dhaouadi, a student, is urging people to write letters to congressmen, make posts to social media and join demonstrations.
“Israel has such a big presence here in the U.S. that there is a lot of people who will show hate towards us and they’ll say awful things, and I am really happy that we got the turnout that we did today,” said Dhaouadi, who is a Tunisian-American.
Fox CT reached out to Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy to see what they thought about the request to stop U.S. monetary support of Israel. We did not hear back.