Pro-Palestinian protestors from various activist groups blocked 8 bridges across the US for the 8th night of Hanukah Thursday evening.
In Seattle, over 100 activists blocked all lanes of the University Bridge and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Activists wore shirts stating “Jews for ceasefire now” even though many of them were known activists from other protests who were not Jewish. Protesters sang, “Hanukah oh Hanukah come light the menorah, down with apartheid…”
For 3 hours, Seattle police allowed the activists to block the bridge and made no effort to remove them. Seattle politicians such as Democratic Mayor Bruce Harrell have been strongly criticized for continuing to allow the activists to block streets and interrupt public events like the downtown Christmas Tree lighting.
On the first night of Hannukah, pro-Palestinian protestors staged a sit-in at the office of the president of the University of Washington and were allowed to remain in the administration building for over 8 hours before they were eventually removed by police. The on-campus menorah lighting ceremony was forced to move to a different location.
Demonstrators shut down the Burnside Bridge in Portland for hours on Thursday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“I think it means something different to each of us, but one of the associations I have with the menorah and Hanukkah is that of miracles, and you could argue it would be miraculous for a ceasefire to happen now,” Catherine Petru, an organizer for the Jewish Voice for Peace Portland, said. “We are calling on our elected(s) to do the same.”
It was a celebration of heritage, of faith, but also a somber moment to remember the lives lost in the conflict.
“Candle eight. In remembrance of those who have been killed. We honor the memories of every Israeli and Palestinian who has been killed. We know that each life is precious. We mourn all these depths deeply,” a speaker at the rally said.
This action was in coordination with Jewish Voice for Peace and other Jewish-led groups forming bridge blockades in several major cities across the United States.
Hanukkah is a celebration of finding light in the darkness, and those who participated in the rally said that is what is needed most in this moment.
“We are bringing in song, just to be able to reach people in a different way,” Zia Laboff, an organizer for the Jewish Voice for Peace Portland, said.
Portland police said they were monitoring the situation. FOX 12 crews didn’t see any arrests while they were at the rally.