Protest Outside Senator John Fetterman's Office, October 19th, 2023
Protesters gathered outside the United States Custom House in Old City to call on Senator John Fetterman to retract his statements regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Fetterman expressed his disturbance at Congress members who quickly blamed Israel for the Al Ahli Arab Hospital bombing, emphasizing the importance of trusting the United States' key ally— Israel. The demonstration, which began at Independence Hall, was organized by IfNotNow, a community group advocating to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and seeks justice and equality for Palestinians in occupied Palestine.
Al Ahli Arab Hospital, situated in the northern Gaza Strip, was a functional medical facility providing care to patients, healthcare workers, and internally displaced individuals who sought refuge there. Before the hospital was bombed, it had received an evacuation order from the Israel Defense Forces. The attack on the hospital, widely criticized on a global scale, has been attributed to the IDF.
A contingent of IfNotNow protesters initially entered the Customs House, forming a human chain in an attempt to reach Senator Fetterman's office, but they were confronted by Department of Homeland Security police. After approximately an hour and a half of speeches, songs, and demands, the group left the area in front of the building and proceeded to march to City Hall.
