Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower to demand activist Mahmoud Khalil's release

[vanessa_ca]

A massive group of anti-Israel protesters crowded a dining area at Trump Tower on Thursday afternoon to rally for the release of former Columbia student and protest ringleader Mahmoud Khalil.

Videos show the crowd of at least 100 — from the pro-Palestinian group Jewish Voice for Peace — wearing red shirts emblazoned with the message, “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel” as they gathered outside the Trump Grill restaurant.

The group waved signs demanding, “Fight Nazis not students,” “No Muslim Ban Ever” and “Jews for Palestinian Freedom.”

Protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace took over the Trump Tower lobby in New York City, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist arrested by immigration authorities.

Wearing red shirts reading “Jews say stop arming Israel,” demonstrators chanted, “Bring Mahmoud home now!” before police arrested at least 65 people.

Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower to demand activist Mahmoud Khalil’s release

NEW YORK (AP) — /snip/

Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident who is married to an American citizen and who hasn’t been charged with breaking any laws, was arrested outside his New York City apartment on Saturday and faces deportation. President Donald Trump has said Khalil’s arrest was the first “of many to come” and vowed on social media to deport students who he said engage in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.”

Among the protesters was actor Debra Winger, who has discussed her Jewish faith and upbringing over the years.

Winger accused the Trump administration of having “no interest in Jewish safety” and “co-opting antisemitism.”

/snip/

Protester Sophie Edelhart, who studies Yiddish at a school in Canada, said she took part in the demonstration because she didn’t want to “cede ground” to Trump and “fascism.” She said the building, with its golden elescalator that Trump rode before announcing his 2016 presidential run, was a symbolic target.

/snip/

Khalil, whose wife is pregnant with their first child, finished his requirements for a Columbia master’s degree in December. Born in Syria, he is a grandson of Palestinians who were forced to leave their homeland, his lawyers said in a legal filing.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/jewish-protesters-flood-trump-tower-to-demand-activist-mahmoud-khalils-release

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread vanessa_ca

[vanessa_ca]

29. You're most welcome -eom

[Nanjeanne]

2. I've been watching this unfold. Good job.

[JohnSJ]

3. JVP is NOT a major "Jewish Group", and what would be interesting is how many of those protesters who could vote, voted

for VP Harris?

[SocialDemocrat61]

4. Who they voted for is irrelevant

The are protesting against a violation of someone’s civil rights. We don’t reserve civil rights only for those who agree with us. They have be respected for everyone.

[JohnSJ]

5. No it isn't irrelevant. If they didn't vote or voted third party, then they

voted for trump, and their protest meaningless, for the simple reason that trump told them exactly what he was going to do. So they are complicit. I don’t care what rationalization they use, what was at stake was quite clear.

If they were eligible to vote and didn’t for VP Harris, they asked for this garbage.

[SocialDemocrat61]

6. No it doesn't

This is a protest for civil rights. If we don’t support civil rights for everyone, even those who disagree with us, we are no better than the people we claim to oppose.

[JohnSJ]

7. What do you think this election was about? Sorry if that isn't obvious to those protesters, and if they refused to vote

for VP Harris, by NOT voting or voting third party, then they don't give a damn about civil rights, because if that was the case they would have voted for VP Harris, WHICH WAS A VOTE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, and IF they didn't, and were eligible to where they could have done something about it , but didn't, then their actions are hollow.

[SocialDemocrat61]

8. Everyone's civil rights need to be respected

and protected, even republicans and Trump voters. If we don’t believe that, we don’t believe in democracy. I don’t know who those people voted for in the last election and don’t care in regard to their protest. They are standing up against someone’s civil rights being violated and deserve to be supported.

[JohnSJ]

9. I will repeat it for the last time. IF those protesters were eligible to vote, and refused to vote for VP Harris, by

either NOT voting or voting third party, then they don't give a damn about Civil Rights, because THAT IS WHAT THIS ELECTION WAS ABOUT

In case anyone didn't realize the SC has been slowly whittling down Civil Rights, and whether it was 2000, 2016, or 2024, those who refused to vote for the Democratic nominee voted against Civil Rights, Supreme Court Justices who support Civil Rights, etc.

And those actions have not only lost the SC for decades, but a probability our Democracy as well.

I have no patience for convenient protester who refused to vote when it counted.

Have a good day.

[SocialDemocrat61]

10. "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas"

Since no one knows who any of these people voted for, it is completely irrelevant. Even if they all voted for Trump it’s still irrelevant. A person’s civil rights, including the right to protest, should not be contingent on who they voted for or what political party they support. If they do, that is fascism.

[JohnSJ]

15. I am not going to pursue arguing on the hypothetical only to say that yes, civil rights shouldn't matter how someone

voted.

[SocialDemocrat61]

16. Thanks

Glad you agree 👍

[Cha]

28. But If they Didn't Vote for Kamala they Helped Bring this SHIT

on themselves. That's Obvious.

Mahalo, John

[JohnSJ]

12. Are you telling me to "shut the fuck up"? Right back at you and your personal attacks. I presented a hypothetical.

you don't like it, block me or alert on me. go abuse someone else with your "shut the fuck up"

[Orrex]

13. Seriously?

[AZProgressive]

23. No one knows who these protestors voted for

They may have voted for Harris to prevent things from becoming worse like I did. I support their actions, they say when I deployed to Iraq I was fighting for "freedom" well if I did it was for their right to protest the fascist Trump regime.

[Eko]

27. Have you heard that people in that group didnt vote for Harris?

[LeftInTX]

18. Jewish Voice for Peace always makes noise and cause trouble. They forced the DNC to be evacuated.

Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, said in a statement Wednesday night that “hundreds of peaceful anti-war activists came to the DNC to call for an end to bombs and violence in order to save Palestinian and Israeli lives.”

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/politics/dnc-headquarters-violent-protest-democrats-evacuated/index.html


Organizers for Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which describes itself as the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world, said protesters arrived outside the DNC building at 430 South Capitol St. SE about 7 p.m. after a candlelight vigil at 3rd Street and Maryland Avenue SW.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/11/16/dnc-protests-hq-washington-dc-ceasefire/

Creating dangerous conditions for people isn't "free speech"!!!

Read what the ACLU has to say about protest antics that create dangerous conditions. It's not free-speech!

[SocialDemocrat61]

20. So?

Civil rights includes the right to protest.

[LeftInTX]

21. It also included the right to be punished for it! It only includes free-speech, not law breaking.

It does not include protesting on private property!!

[SocialDemocrat61]

22. They still have the right to protest

If they break the law, they can be arrested and prosecuted.

[LeftInTX]

24. They were protesting inside private property. They do not have the right to protest on private property!

Private property owners can set rules for speech on their property.


You also may break the law if your protest impedes traffic.


https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

[SocialDemocrat61]

26. Then let them be prosecuted

But I’m not going to say they don’t have the right to protest. There are certain principles of civil rights involved here.

[Ping Tung]

17. Bravo for them standing up for free speech and civil rights and against the fascists.

[JoseBalow]

19. That was quick!

Welcome back

[David__77]

25. Wonderful!

[Mountainguy]

30. hmmmm

These people can protest all they want, but this is what they asked for when they attacked Biden/Harris endlessly.

Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it.

[Martin Eden]

31. "anti-Israel" protesters

Do these Jews oppose the existence of Israel and its people, or are they opposed to the policies of the Netyahu government which have laid waste to Gaza and killed thousands of civilians including women and children?