Thousands of demonstrators from community organizations and faith groups marched through the streets of Livingston, N.J., Sunday in one of the region’s largest demonstrations since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The march was a show of solidarity with Israel in a 30,000-person community where nearly half the population identifies as Jewish. For many of those gathered, Sunday’s demonstration wasn’t only a call for peace, or a gathering to mourn after Oct. 7’s surprise attack of Israel by Hamas. It was also a demand for Israel to destroy Hamas.
“This attack has made it clear that just like ISIS had to be eradicated, there's no negotiations, there's no discussions,” said Moshe Glick, who is one of the seven community members from the Livingston area who formed the ad-hoc MetroWest Israel Action Committee.
The group organized the march with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
“This is terror. And terrorists need to be destroyed, eradicated from the face of the earth, just like ISIS was,” Glick said.
That message was repeated in speeches before the crowd Sunday and in conversations among protesters, some of whom had their children alongside them. They gathered at the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah, and walked more than a mile along Route 10 and South Livingston Avenue, with the crowd stretching out along most of the route before attendees amassed at a park near Livingston’s municipal building.
Marchers sang the U.S. and Israeli national anthems, and recited the Shema (a foundational prayer for Jews) as law enforcement officers from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and Livingston Police Department walked alongside them.
The demonstration was peaceful, with no significant counterprotests as have been seen in some large rallies in New York City.
As the group passed the Sweet Kneads bakery on South Livingston Avenue, owner Ridhima Sood handed out bottles of water and kosher cookies. Sood said she’s not Jewish, but many of her customers are, and some had told her over the past week they have loved ones they’re trying to bring home from Israel.
“We just thought in this solidarity walk, whatever we can do from our side, to support people and just show our love and support for the community, we are happy to do it and be here for them,” she said. “No matter what the religion is, it's just heartbreaking, and regardless of religion ... supporting each other is the biggest moral [value] that I've grown up with, that my parents taught me, and we continue to do so.”
Organizers said nearly 70 groups took part in the march, including synagogues and Jewish community groups, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches, and Chinese and Indian associations.
Sunday’s rally follows widespread pro-Palestinian protests in New York City on Friday. Many of Friday’s protests were prompted by Israel’s military response to the prior week’s attacks, including demand that more than 1 million residents of northern Gaza evacuate in anticipation for a ground offensive into the territory.
“There's definitely a humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” said Joshua Commer of Livingston, a member of a local Hatzalah volunteer ambulance group. “It was brought on by the infrastructure that Hamas built in Gaza, and by other terrorist organizations.”
He blamed Hamas for spending resources on militant training and weaponry, and for hiding militants and weaponry among its infrastructure amid civilian populations.
Glick, speaking before the crowd, asked those gathered to expect a bloody and prolonged war, and for demands that Israel pull back. But he said Israel needs time to defeat Hamas. He urged demonstrators to donate to pro-Israel groups and to continue their activism.
“This is our time to ensure ‘never again’ is not just a slogan,” he said. “This will be a long battle and one that's just getting started. So what's my ask of everybody out there? Was it great that we just came out to a rally? We came together, and there's benefit, absolutely in that. But I want to know who's going to be here next week, next month, and the many months after that.”
"gather" - Google News
October 16, 2023 at 08:07AM
https://ift.tt/KzAnay9
Thousands gather in one of NJ's most Jewish towns over Israel-Hamas war - Gothamist
"gather" - Google News
https://ift.tt/sgSOomQ
https://ift.tt/Ju8jvAZ
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Thousands gather in one of NJ's most Jewish towns over Israel-Hamas war - Gothamist"
Post a Comment