Pro-Palestine protesters repeatedly disrupted a Senate hearing with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Brown on Tuesday.
The protest appeared to be organized by Code Pink, an anti-war organization founded during the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2002.
The group has been calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The protesters had entered the hearing room and disrupted it at least three times. 🇺🇸🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡️-
Pro-Palestinian activists interrupted Pentagon chief Austin several times during Senate hearings. The most noisy demonstrators were escorted out of the hall by police.#Israel-#Palestine-#USA pic.twitter.com/L8jRnVj6Fh
— Millitary Nerd (@MilitaryNerdd) April 9, 2024
“Stop killing my people,” one of the protesters said. “Stop funding Israel.”
"You're responsible for this genocide! You've killed over 100 members of my family!" @SecDef: "You're responsible for this genocide! You've killed over 100 members of my family!" pic.twitter.com/AZndTvpErc
— CODEPINK (@codepink) April 9, 2024
Another demonstrator shouted, "Fund your district, not Israel!" "Fund your district, not Israel!"
We caught Senators like @SenMarkKelly on his way into today's hearing.
He's taken $496,021 from the pro-Israel lobby. pic.twitter.com/IwaKvcGsNT
— CODEPINK (@codepink) April 9, 2024 @SecDef: "You speak to Yoav Gallant on a daily basis. Two days ago he said the invasion of Rafah will be akin to Al Shifa Hospital... The blood is on your hands!" pic.twitter.com/h04SotE8ah
— CODEPINK (@codepink) April 9, 2024
Democrat Senator Jack Reed scolded the protesters, saying, "It is not appropriate for comments or demonstrations by the spectating audience here. We are conducting a hearing and we will do so."
Eventually, the entire group was removed from the hearing room. It does not appear that any arrests were made.
Code Pink then protested in the senate cafeteria, chanting, "Senate can’t eat until Gaza eats." Large senate cafeteria is shut down due to large protests by pro Gaza protesters.
Chanting “Senate can’t eat until Gaza eats”
I'm told Police are arresting and escorting some out.
Video sent to me by senate staffer: pic.twitter.com/FOQTVyEDGc
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) April 9, 2024
Members of the organization, including cofounder Medea Benjamin, also repeatedly disrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken's testimony to a Senate hearing on aid to Israel in October.
Code Pink has protested US wars and involvement in foreign conflicts under former President's George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and now Joe Biden.
