After Burlington Shooting, Hundreds Rally for Palestinians at the Vermont Statehouse
MONTPELIER — Around 300 people gathered at the Vermont Statehouse on Saturday to protest the Israel-Hamas War, just a week after three young men of Palestinian descent were shot and injured in Burlington. The rally was held in response to the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and also addressed the hate crime in Burlington.
Ashley Smith, a Burlington activist and co-host of the event, addressed the crowd, saying, We rally today in the shadow of a hate crime in our state. We rally in the shadow of Israel restarting its genocidal bombing campaign in Gaza.
The shooting in Burlington occurred on November 25 and injured Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Aliahmad. The three individuals, aged 20, had become friends while attending a Quaker school in the West Bank and were visiting Awartani’s family in Burlington for Thanksgiving when they were allegedly shot by a white man on North Prospect Street. Jason Eaton, 48, was charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shootings. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was a hate crime.
Protesters at the rally criticized the Israeli government for their actions in Gaza, referring to it as an apartheid state conducting a genocidal war. They also expressed their frustration with American politicians whom they believe are enabling the bloodshed. One sign carried by a protester depicted President Joe Biden as a marionette controlled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While addressing the crowd, Jayna Ahsaf, a field organizer for the prison abolition group Free Her Vermont, emphasized that the shooting in Burlington was a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to address systemic issues. She stated, Black and brown community members have been ringing the alarm that the presumed exceptionalism of Vermont is not accurate.
The rally participants condemned the violence in Gaza and demanded an immediate and permanent cease-fire. They called attention to the thousands of lives lost, particularly those of women and children, during the Israeli military’s bombing campaigns and incursion into the Gaza Strip.
Smith highlighted the recent calls for a cease-fire by U.S. Rep. Becca Balint and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch. However, he criticized Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for not fully supporting a cease-fire, despite his previous calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting and criticism of the Israeli government. Smith urged Sanders to change his position and join the majority of people in the Democratic Party and around the world in calling for an immediate cease-fire.
Counter-protesters holding Israeli flags also gathered across State Street, expressing their support for Israel and disputing the claims made by the pro-Palestinian protesters. They argued that Israel has been attacked and unfairly accused.
The phrase From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which was chanted by some pro-Palestinian protesters, drew controversy. It is seen by some groups as deeply antisemitic, while others view it as a call for freedom, justice, and equality for all people.
Both sides expressed their beliefs passionately, highlighting the ongoing complexities and divisions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The rally and counter-protest in Vermont served as a microcosm of the global debate over the crisis in Gaza, as protesters raised their voices in solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for an end to the violence.
The gathering at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier demonstrated the growing awareness and engagement in the local community regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. As people continue to grapple with the complexities of the conflict, it remains to be seen how these voices will shape the discourse and contribute to the pursuit of peace in the region.
