--- description: On Nov. 15, U.S. Capitol Police officers clashed with protesters who gathered outside the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C. title: U.S. Capitol Police Clash With Gaza Ceasefire Protesters image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8a338ca6c6b8f2b/698a4264929fad6890bfa60a/GettyImages-1795844628.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Israel-Hamas War](/tag/israel-hamas-war/) ## Israel-Hamas War Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Key Moments From the Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Across the U.S. by [Mallory Moench](/author/mallory-moench/) and [Anna Gordon](/author/anna-gordon/) Updated: Nov 16, 2023 7:02 PM CUTPublished: Nov 5, 2023 8:02 PM CUT  U.S. Capitol Police clashed with Gaza ceasefire protesters on Nov. 15, 2023. U.S. Capitol Police clashed with Gaza ceasefire protesters on Nov. 15, 2023.Alex Wong—Getty Images by [Mallory Moench](/author/mallory-moench/) and [Anna Gordon](/author/anna-gordon/) Updated: Nov 16, 2023 7:02 PM CUTPublished: Nov 5, 2023 8:02 PM CUT Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have [taken to the streets](https://time.com/6331625/protests-us-global-israel-gaza-ceasefire/ "undefined") across the world, calling for a Gaza ceasefire amid the Israel-Hamas war. More than [11,300 Palestinians have been killed](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-05-2023-eb1dfa6afe40ba267024c7d819e17194 "undefined") in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and[ more than 1,200 people killed](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/world/middleeast/israel-death-toll-hamas-attack.html#:~:text=Israel%20revised%20its%20official%20estimated,Ministry%20said%20on%20Friday%20night. "undefined") in Israel since the [Oct. 7 Hamas attack that started the war.](https://time.com/6321849/israel-attack/ "undefined") Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu[ has so far refused to call for a ceasefire](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/03/full-force-offensive-in-gaza-will-carry-on-till-hostages-freed-says-netanyahu "undefined") until Hamas releases [more than 200 hostages](https://www.nytimes.com/article/israel-hostages-hamas-explained.html "undefined"). U.S. President Joe Biden[ has urged](https://time.com/6330704/joe-biden-pause-israel-hamas-war/ "undefined") for humanitarian pauses, to allow more aid to be distributed and for hostages to be released. With all eyes on the Middle East, there has been an outcry of support for a ceasefire. Across social media, many people are calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, [with food, water, fuel and medical supplies running out.](https://time.com/6322986/gaza-electricity-crisis-hospital-impact/ "undefined") Across the U.S., several demonstrations have taken place, most recently on the evening of Nov. 15, when U.S. Capitol Police officers clashed with protesters who gathered outside the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C. Below are key moments from the protests across the U.S. ## Clashes erupt between police and protesters in the nation's capital Pro-Palestinian demonstrators [gathered outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/capitol-police-evacuating-dnc-palestine-protest-turned-violent-rcna125459 "undefined") in Washington D.C. on the evening of Nov. 15\. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), U.S. Capitol Police said that the protests, thought to be attended by approximately 150 people, were illegal and had turned violent. "[Six officers were treated for injuries](https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice/status/1724965063625236706 "undefined")—ranging from minor cuts to being pepper sprayed to being punched. One person has been arrested for assault on an officer. We appreciate our officers who kept these illegal and violent protesters back, and protected everyone in the area," the law enforcement body said. Many lawmakers were reportedly inside the building when the protests erupted and had to be evacuated, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. [Jewish Voice for Peace](https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/ "undefined"), [If Not Now,](https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/ "undefined") and [Democratic Socialists of America](https://www.dsausa.org/ "undefined") were the three activist groups behind the demonstration. Jewish Voice for Peace accused police of violently assaulting protestors, claiming that the demonstrations were peaceful until officers began using pepper spray. “[Police gave no warnings](https://twitter.com/JvpAction/status/1724996954302652683 "undefined") to disperse and refused to speak with the police liaison on site,” the organization argued. ## Amnesty International Demonstrates Outside the White House The human rights organization [Amnesty International held a demonstration](https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-territories-government-international-agreements-protests-and-demonstrations-hamas-5d136b9578ff414fa734febcb03f69ac "undefined") outside the White House lawn, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The group laid out dozens of fake body bags on the sidewalk, to represent those killed in the Gaza conflict. Pro-Israel demonstrators also showed up to the gathering, holding signs calling for the return of the Israeli hostages. “We organized this demonstration to bring attention to the loss of life that is happening today in Gaza. After the war crime that Hamas committed on Oct. 7th, we have seen more than 11,000 Gazans die,” the executive director of Amnesty International USA, Paul O’Brien, told [the Associated Press](https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-territories-government-international-agreements-protests-and-demonstrations-hamas-5d136b9578ff414fa734febcb03f69ac "undefined"). “This demonstration is to bring home to President Biden the fact that he’s not doing enough to stop the violence in Gaza.” ## Musician **Macklemore speaks to the Washington D.C. crowd** Musician Macklemore, born Ben Haggerty, took to the microphone at a rally in the nation’s capital on Nov. 4, saying he didn’t expect to be there since “there were thousands of people who are more qualified to speak on the issue of a free Palestine than myself.” ### More From TIME “They told me to be quiet, they told me to do my research, to go back, that it’s too complex to say something, to be silent in this moment. In the last three weeks, I’ve gone back and I’ve done some research and I’m teachable, I don’t know enough, but I know enough that this is a genocide,” he claimed. A video of his speech has since received over 112,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter). The United Nations[ defines genocide](https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/Genocide%20Convention-FactSheet-ENG.pdf "undefined") as a crime “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” The U.N. [has said it is gathering evidence for war crimes](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/31/have-war-crimes-been-committed-in-israel-and-gaza-and-what-international-laws-apply "undefined") committed by Hamas and Israel, while nine families of Israeli victims of the Hamas attack filed a complaint [with the International Criminal Court ](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/3/israeli-families-bring-war-crime-complaint-to-icc-against-hamas "undefined")arguing Hamas committed genocide. Israel’s government has pushed back on allegations of genocide—for instance, [accusing some Spanish politicians ](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/spain-rejects-israeli-claims-of-its-officials-aligning-with-hamas "undefined")who suggested that of aligning with Hamas. > [](https://twitter.com/Phil%5FLewis%5F/status/1720890194793292263?s=20) ## Nihad Awad promises consequences in the 2024 election: "No ceasefire, no votes" Nihad Awad, the national director at the Council on American–Islamic Relations, told a Washington D.C. crowd on Nov. 4 that no ceasefire means no Arab-American votes for President Biden and the Democratic party in the 2024 elections, [The Guardian reported.](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/04/up-to-30000-protesters-expected-for-pro-palestinian-rally-in-dc-on-saturday "undefined") “Our message is: No ceasefire, no votes,” Awad repeated, with the crowd joining in. “No votes in Michigan, no votes in Arizona, no votes in Georgia, no votes in Nevada, no votes in Wisconsin, no votes in Pennsylvania.” > [](https://twitter.com/AkidNamedBilly/status/1720948552812122317?s=20) ## Time lapse shows huge turnout at D.C. protest The activist group the Answer Coalition, which promoted the protest in Washington D.C. on Nov. 4, released [a time lapse video](https://x.com/answercoalition/status/1720934730395181131?s=20 "undefined"), showing massive streams of people on the streets. The organization claimed on Twitter that the march was attended by 300,000 people, although that number could not be verified by TIME. > [](https://twitter.com/answercoalition/status/1720934730395181131?s=20) ## Thousands take over roads in California cities  Protesters, demanding an end to the Israeli invasion of Gaza, marched on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles towards the Federal Building on Nov. 4 Mel Melcon—Los Angeles Times/Getty Images Holding posters and Palestinian flags, [protestors calling for a Gaza ceasefire](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-04/thousands-of-pro-palestinians-rally-at-israeli-consulate-in-l-a-calling-for-end-to-invasion-of-gaza "undefined") amassed at the Israeli Consulate in West Los Angeles on Nov. 4, before marching down and eventually taking over a main boulevard. On the same day, [protesters rallied in San Francisco](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/sf-palestinian-rally-18463584.php "undefined") and marched downtown. ## Protesters storm U.S. military supply ship in Oakland Ahead of the Nov. 4 marches, protesters [amassed around a U.S. military supply ship in Oakland, ](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/pro-palestinian-protesters-block-military-supply-ship-at-the-port-of-oakland/ "undefined")California on Nov. 3 for hours, some clinging to its side and climbing up its ladders, after they claimed to have heard from a source that it was headed toward Israel. However, union officials and subcontractors at the Port of Oakland working around the ship said it was empty and [periodically came and went from the port](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-oakland-port-protest-18467434.php "undefined"). > [](https://twitter.com/Dena/status/1720548912233435272?s=20) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/"},"headline":"Key Moments From the Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Across the U.S.","datePublished":"2023-11-05T20:02:59.000Z","dateModified":"2023-11-16T19:02:42.000Z","description":"Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to streets across the U.S. on Nov. 4, calling for a Gaza ceasefire amid the Israel-Hamas war.","url":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/","keywords":["Israel-Hamas War","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8a338ca6c6b8f2b/698a4264929fad6890bfa60a/GettyImages-1795844628.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mallory Moench","jobTitle":"Moench was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau.","url":"https://time.com/author/mallory-moench/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Anna Gordon","jobTitle":"Gordon was a reporter for TIME, based in the London bureau.","url":"https://time.com/author/anna-gordon/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb8a338ca6c6b8f2b/698a4264929fad6890bfa60a/GettyImages-1795844628.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Jewish Peace Activists Rally Near Capitol Hill","caption":"Jewish Peace Activists Rally Near Capitol Hill","creditText":"Alex Wong—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/israel-hamas-war/","name":"Israel-Hamas War"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/","name":"Key Moments From the Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Across the U.S."}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Palestinian TV Correspondent Bursts Into Tears While Reviewing the Situation in Gaza","description":"On Oct. 13, a team of journalists was gathered on the border between Israel and southern Lebanon to provide live signal to the Reuters news agency. They were reporting on a crossfire between Israeli troops and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah when an Israeli shell landed nearby, killing a videographer and wounding six others. “So many journalists are paying with their lives to bring truth to everybody,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres lamented while expressing condolences to the family members of victims.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/RdIpaiOu/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-11-03T17:53:07.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/RdIpaiOu.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/","duration":"PT1M25S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6331688/protest-marches-us-gaza-war-ceasefire/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```