Over 100 Philadelphians gathered Saturday for a protest against U.S. military actions in the Middle East, including a rally at City Hall followed by a march to Rittenhouse Square.
The protest primarily focused on recent attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Iran, as well as Israeli activities in Gaza. Originally scheduled for the previous Monday, the event was postponed to avoid extreme heat conditions, and in the interim, a ceasefire was declared between the involved nations.
Organizers had anticipated a large turnout, expecting hundreds to participate. Many attendees showcased signs and participated in chants denouncing U.S. and Israeli actions.
Joel Northam, 37, a protester, expressed his concerns, stating, ‘The U.S. and Israel have not stopped. They want regime change in that country [Iran], and we do not believe that they will stop until they get it.’ Most participants chose to remain anonymous when approached for comments by Billy Penn.
The conflict between Israel and Iran escalated on June 13 with Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program. This escalated when the U.S. joined the attacks last weekend. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 23.
The event was coordinated by 18 activist organizations in Philadelphia, such as The Philly Palestine Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. Speeches by representatives from these groups highlighted various issues including American imperialism, the plight of the Palestinian people, and the role of the Trump administration in the current crisis.
The organizers intended for the protest to ‘raise consciousness’ about these pressing issues. Protests advocating for the rights of Palestinians have been a consistent part of the public landscape in Philadelphia over the last two years. The heightened concern comes in light of significant civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from Israeli military actions while pursuing Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, leading to around 1,200 Israeli civilian deaths.
‘Nobody knows about the situation there [in Iran and Palestine], so we’re out here to try to let people know what’s really happening because they’re being lied to,’ Northam added.
During the City Hall rally, one speaker identified himself as ‘Israel’s worst nightmare’ and publicly criticized Israeli actions by stomping on an Israeli flag, labeling it a terrorist symbol. Protestors later attempted to set fire to an American flag, but unsuccessful, they chose to tear it apart by hand instead.
The visible slogans carried by protestors included messages such as ‘Stop genocide, free Palestine,’ ‘Hands off Iran,’ and a striking illustration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu behind bars with the phrase ‘Lock him up.’
Traffic was brought to a standstill as marchers proceeded on a roughly half-mile route from City Hall to Rittenhouse Square, culminating in another rally at the corner of Walnut and 18th streets.
At Rittenhouse Square, several onlookers engaged with the protestors. A man claiming to be Jewish accused the group of harboring animosity towards Jewish people, leading to a heated debate about Palestine that concluded without further conflict.
In another incident, a woman interrupted the protest by singing an Israeli song, while another man recorded the event on his phone as he debated with the protestors.
Police intervened to maintain peace between the protestors and a few onlookers, successfully preventing any potential escalation of confrontations.
Attendees represented a wide demographic, including many young adults alongside older individuals like Joe Piette, 78, who has been active in anti-war protests since opposing the Vietnam War.
Piette remarked, ‘I’m glad that a lot of young people are involved. These are the people that are going to replace me and continue that struggle.’
This protest not only showcased a wide array of emotions and opinions but also reflected the ongoing engagement of Philadelphia residents with international issues.
image source from：billypenn
