More than 100 protestors calling to divest from Israel arrested in Harrisburg
Police say demonstration objecting to US state’s investment in Israeli bonds was unauthorized
Police arrested 126 people Monday at a protest in Harrisburg against the Pennsylvania government’s investments in Israel, the Associated Press reported.
There were chants of “free Palestine” before and after the protesters were arrested.
The demonstration, held on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, was shut down.
A spokesperson for the Department of General Services described the protest “as an unpermitted, unauthorized demonstration,” according to the AP. Protesters were ordered to disperse before being arrested, issued citations for trespassing and then released, spokesperson Troy Thompson said.
About 10 people from Pittsburgh may have been among those who were arrested, according to Shawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
The demonstration was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the Philly Palestine Coalition and the Pennsylvania Council on American-Islamic Relations, KDKA reported.
Many of the protestors wore T-shirts that said, “divest from genocide,” according to the AP.
Organizers of the protest said it was targeted at the commonwealth’s Treasury Department’s investment in Israel bonds.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity said on X (formerly Twitter) that her decision to invest in Israel bonds was more than “a show of support” for the Jewish state, and that the bonds have proven to be a “solid investment.”
“I support Israel and Pennsylvania’s long-standing tradition of investing in Israel Bonds,’ Garrity said in a prepared statement. “State Treasurers from both political parties have proudly invested in Israel Bonds for more than 30 years. Israel is America’s greatest ally in the Middle East. After the horrific and deadly attacks perpetrated against Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas, I unequivocally stand in solidarity with our ally. Put simply: If Hamas stopped fighting today, there would be no more war. If Israel stopped fighting today, there would be no more Israel.” PJC
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