Detroit — Dozens of demonstrators marched Sunday in front of Huntington Place, where President Biden is the keynote speaker at the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner, to protest the United States sending military aid to Israel.
The protesters said they wanted to send a message to Biden, who has supported Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza. But the president has withheld a shipment of 3,500 bombs from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the objections of congressional Republicans as Israel has pressed a “limited and localized” military operation in Rafah, the last key stronghold for Hamas and many Palestinian civilians in the country.
As well-dressed dinner guests filed down John Conyers Jr. Boulevard past the protesters, they were chided by some demonstrators.
“The NAACP is supposed to work for human rights and not support genocide,” said Darryl Jordan of Detroit, who is African American. “Biden’s been going around to all the Black places acting like he’s all for Black folks. But you can’t be for Black folks and support oppression like this.”
The protesters chanted “Biden, Biden, hear our call, your racist empire has to fall,” and “Genocide Joe has got to go,” and carrying signs with messages including “Ceasefire Now!” and “Stop all aid to Israel.” Several people carried Palestinian flags.
Abdo Eli of Dearborn said he’s concerned about “the children of Gaza,” adding that “The United States has to stop supporting, genocide and murder, stealing people’s homes, and supporting people who bomb schools.”
As Eli discussed his concerns, several people told him “don’t give out any information. Don’t talk to the media,” prompting him to end the interview.
West Bloomfield Township resident Don Cohen, former director of the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan, said the protesters calling the war a genocide is “wrong and insulting.”
To the protesters calling for a ceasefire, Cohen said: “There was a cease-fire on Oct. 7, and Hamas broke it.”
“Hamas can stop this war as quickly as they started it,” Cohen said. “All they need to do is release the hostages and leave Gaza to the Gazans to rule. All this talk of ‘Genocide Joe’ is not going to bring an end to this war.”
The Biden campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel’s seven-month-long war was prompted by an Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas into Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 hostage. Militants still hold about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30. Internationally mediated talks over a ceasefire and hostage release appear to be at a standstill, according to the Associated Press, as Israel has pressed an offensive into Rafah, the last stronghold for Hamas in Gaza.
The Democratic president has since opposed Israel’s looming military operation in Rafah, withholding certain military weapons. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last Sunday said Israeli tactics have meant “a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians” but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency.
Israel’s offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 militants, but hasn’t provided evidence.
However, in a May 8 report, the United Nations said of the Palestinian fatalities that 40% or 10,006 are men, 32% or 7,797 are children, 20% or 4,959 are women and 8% are elderly or 1,924. The report said the U.N. has not been able to produce independent, comprehensive and verified casualty figures.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have escalated their tactics during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Last week, pro-Palestinian demonstrators “decorated” the front lawn of University of Michigan Board of Regents Chair Sarah Hubbard’s home with “scenes of genocide in Palestine,” including painted body bags, and taped documents listing demands for divestment from Israel to the door of her home and those of the seven other regents. Hubbard and other regents have vowed not to change the university’s endowment investment policy, which they said guards against bowing to political pressures.
More than 250 pro-Palestinian demonstrators also took over the UM administration building Nov. 17 for several hours, which Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit said resulted in criminal charges against four people, who were accused of resisting/obstructing/assaulting a law enforcement officer.
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