Dozens gather for pro-Palestine rally in Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Dozens of people gathered in Richmond on Friday afternoon for a pro-Palestine rally.

Several grassroots organizations, along with members of the Richmond community, stood at the doorsteps of City Hall, asking for lawmakers to advocate for putting an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

“We feel as though there is no outcry for Palestinians,” a protester said. “All the injuries, the deaths, the bombings, the airstrikes. We feel it’s falling onto deaf ears,” said Sereen Haddad, organizer of the protest.

The organizations are not only calling for a ceasefire, but they also want the government to stop funding the Israeli military and send humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Some members of the Jewish community are against a ceasefire.

“Israel has a right to defend it’s citizens and eliminate ongoing threats from it’s borders,” said Daniel Staffenberg, CEO of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.

One protester on Friday said this isn’t how it has to be and wants the community to think of a time before the conflict began in 1948.

“They were living peacefully. Christians, Jews, Muslims. They were living peacefully all together.” said Khaled Shaban.

This protest comes a little more than a week after some VCU students walked out of class calling for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza.

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