May 06, 2024
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Nearly 100 pro-Palestinian protestors took to the streets of Richmond Monday to deliver a list of demands concerning the Israel Hamas War to the U.S. Senators who represent the Commonwealth. Monday, May 6 marks one week since pro-Palestinian protestors set up an encampment outside Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) James Branch Cabell Library that ended in several arrests. Following that incident, organizers said their fight would not stop, continuing their push to make their voices heard by holding a march. "This movement is driving to try to make a change," said student organizer Sareen Haddad. "We are all here to make a change. We are fighting together and we are starting to gather, and we can't forget that. We cannot be silent, we will not be silent." What started as dozens gathered at Monroe Park quickly grew to a crowd of nearly 100 people who took the streets of downtown Richmond, marching towards the Virginia Capitol, where they delivered a list of demands to U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.  Organizers are demanding the following from Virginia lawmakers: Meet with VCU President Michael Rao and student protestors Denounce the actions taken by police at the protest held on April 29th Call on VCU to disclose financial ties to Israel  Call on VCU to divest from Israeli companies  Call on Virginia colleges and universities to drop charges against encampment protestors  Senator Kaine to stop sending aid to Israel 8News reached out out to the offices of Warner and Kaine for a response to Monday afternoon’s demonstration. Warner did not respond before the publication of this article. A spokesperson from Kaine’s office responded with the following statement: “Senator Kaine believes people have the right under the First Amendment to express their beliefs on issues that matter to them and they should do so in ways that follow local and federal laws. He has been in constant dialogue with Virginians about Israel/Gaza over the past 7 months. He has publicly and repeatedly called for a deal to release the hostages taken by Hamas and establish a ceasefire in Gaza. He has also advocated for more humanitarian assistance into Gaza and that U.S. weapons transfers to Israel prioritize defensive needs, such as restocking the Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems, rather than weapons that could further escalate the conflict.” 8News learned Kaine was not in town Monday during the time of the demonstration. Until the demands protestors are calling for are met, Haddad says they will not stop fighting. "Will we be silent? We refuse to be silent,” said Haddad.
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