Hundreds of protesters on Friday staged a sit-in at the Manhattan building that houses offices of both of New York’s U.S. senators, prompting dozens of arrests, including those of a state assembly member and a city councilor.The protest, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, came after both Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted against proposals to block a massive arms transfer to Israel — though dozens of their Democratic colleagues joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in his effort to block the arms sale, a significant milestone.
“Less than 36 hours ago, the Senate voted and we saw three-quarters of them refuse to take action to block the sale of arms that would address the starvation crisis,” said Jay Saper, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace, who called the senators’ vote against the measure “outrageous.”
“The only way that can address the starvation crisis is if we stop sending the bombs that Israel is continuing to drop on Gaza,” Saper said.