58 arrested near South Station in Gaza rally
Protesters had blocked traffic
Police in Boston arrested 58 protesters Thursday morning after they blocked a street near South Station to protest Israel’s war in Gaza, officials said.
The demonstration was organized by IfNotNow, a group that describes itself as a “movement of American Jews,” and held on the day of President Biden’s State of the Union address.
“It’s a rainy day, we don’t want to be out here blocking traffic, but hundreds of thousands of people are starving in Gaza right now,” said Nathan Foster, 27, of Medford. “We’re telling Biden your support of the Israeli campaign in Gaza is unacceptable.”
The roughly 100 protesters felt they “have no other option,” Foster said.
“Personally, I’m so horrified by the starvation, the homelessness, and the complete destruction in Gaza,” he said. “We reject the idea that this horrific massacre is being done in our name.”
Boston Police spokesman Sergeant Detective John Boyle said 58 people were taken into custody and “for the most part” were being charged with “unlawful assembly.” On social media, IfNotNow Boston said about 50 people were arrested “for putting their bodies on the line to cry out for peace.”
The protest began at 8 a.m. and about 20 minutes later, police posted on social media that roads were closed in the area of Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue. “Please seek an alternative route,” they wrote. The roads were closed for about 30 minutes.
The protesters sang “ceasefire now” in the tune of traditional Jewish hymns, said Noa Reiter, 23, of Somerville. They held large signs that read “Thriving Future For All,” “Biden: Lasting Ceasefire Now,” and “State Of The Union: Our Taxes Fund Genocide.”
Michael Felsen, 73, of Jamaica Plain, said “nothing excuses what happened on Oct. 7,” when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
But “the occupation needs to end,” he said.
“I want to acknowledge the horror that happened on Oct. 7, which was a war crime and a massacre,” Felsen said. “But it’s important to understand the entire history of the conflict and the fact that Palestinians have been deprived of their right to self-determination for far too long.”
Reiter said the protesters have also “tried less disruptive tactics” such as showing up at the White House, at Congress, and at Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office.
“We are out here in rush hour, morning traffic in the cold because we aren’t quite sure what else to do to get our voices heard,” Reiter said.
Holding a Palestinian flag and wearing a “Veterans for Peace” vest, Bob Bowes, 84, of Somerville, said the protest was “an act of conscience.”
“It’s important, especially today, to deliver a message to President Biden for an absolute cease-fire to end the slaughter,” said Bowes, a Vietnam War veteran.
Around noon, about 30 protesters also gathered outside of the John F. Kennedy Federal Building, where US Senators Warren and Ed Markey have Boston offices.
The protesters, organized by Massachusetts Peace Action, took turns reading emotional letters and poetry for two representatives from Markey’s office and one from Warren’s office.