More than a hundred people gathered in Tallahassee’s Cascades Park on Wednesday night to show support for Palestine.
The socialist group Freedom Road Socialist Organization led the latest charge against Israel’s response to the deadly attack from Hamas earlier this month. The rally follows a host of pro-Israel statements made by federal, state and local leaders, including President Joe Biden, who recently traveled to Israel.
My team and I have touched down in Israel to stand in solidarity with the Israeli people following Hamas's terrorist attack.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023
Join me as I address the people of Israel in Tel Aviv: https://t.co/LHTLwArx93
“I come to Israel with a single message, you’re not alone," Biden stated during his address overseas. "As long as United States stands, and we will stand forever; we will not ever let you be alone.”
A small, but vocal group of people have raised concerns with the support for Israel. WFSU spoke with local activist Delilah Pierre during Wednesday's protest.
“We need to fight to end U.S. aid to Israel to make sure that our country is not giving billions of dollars as well as soldiers to fight, to prolong a genocide against the country,” said Pierre.
The rally featured men and women waving signs that read: “stop the genocide” and “pull U.S. troops out of Israel.”
“The support for Israel is artificial," said Pierre. "They can throw as much money, lies, and deception in the news and the media as they want to."
Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for more sanctions against Iran, which has long backed Hamas, and for stiffer penalties for “antisemitism.”
According to a recent poll by YOUGOV, nearly 75% of survey respondents considered Israel an ally, and a majority expressed sympathy for the country as well.