A group about 100 protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza blocked traffic during rush hour in Boston on Thursday morning.
The group, IfNotNow, blocked traffic on the Boston side of the Boston University bridge for more than two hours. Many of the protesters said they had recently traveled from Chicago, where they attended a similar protest.
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"On Thursday morning, November 16 at 8:00 AM, Boston Jews and allies will block rush-hour traffic on a major thoroughfare in Boston Activists will demand that Elizabeth Warren support an immediate ceasefire and use her influence to stop the Israeli government’s ongoing massacre in Gaza," the group said in a news release.
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The event caused significant disruptions, with police shutting down the bridge at Commonwealth Avenue shortly after 8 a.m. The group had cleared as of 10:40 a.m.
The group could be heard chanting and singing "Ceasefire now," as they protested on the bridge. Many of the protesters were wearing T-shirts with "Not in our name" on the front of them.
"For the last month, I've witnessed unspeakable atrocity that's being done in my name, and I'm here to say this is not for American Jewish safety, this is not for global Jewish safety, and that we're calling for a ceasefire. We're saying that there needs to be an end to the violence," said Emma Rose Borzekowski, one of the protesters.
“There can’t be peace for Jews unless there is peace for Palestinians," another demonstrator, Elizabeth Weinbaum, added.
The same group has been to Warren's office four times in the last 40 days pushing for her to support a ceasefire. Warren responded with a statement last month that reads, in part:
“Israel has both a right to defend itself from terrorist attacks and an obligation to protect innocent civilians under the international laws of war.”
A fellow Jewish community member and Boston University student interrupted the demonstration, disagreeing with their message.
“What would America do if 1,400 people would be slaughtered?" Raviv said. “We care about Palestinian lives, we only want to hurt Hamas.”
Thursday evening, a separate group of protesters unfurled banners over Storrow Drive, also calling for a ceasefire.
A group of Black clergy members also gathered in Roxbury Thursday to pray for peace in the Middle East. The members said they want to see the hostages taken from Israel released and an end to hostilities on both sides.
"We mourn the loss of Israelis during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, and we also mourn the loss of Palestinian lives," said Rev. Art Gordon of St. John Missionary Baptist Church.
"In these trying times, we earnestly advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and we demand the release of all hostages and the protection of innocent lives," said Rev. Willie Bodrick II of the Twelfth Baptist Church.
Thursday morning, Boston police said they were not previously aware of the incident or where it would take place, but multiple cruisers were on scene by 8 a.m.
The protest comes exactly 40 days since the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. Thousands have died on both sides of the conflict.
