Office of 2 Democratic Senators is Demolished by Mass Rejection of US Weapons Worth 600 Million Sold to Israel

JAKARTA - More than 100 demonstrators who oppose the sale of US-made weapons to Israel were arrested during a demonstration in Manhattan, New York, USA.

Newsweek reported that the mass action was in front of the building on Monday local time, trying to occupy one of the offices in Manhattan owned by US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The demonstrators supported a resolution to reject the sale of US weapons to Israel worth more than 600 million US dollars. The resolution was proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent member of the US Senate from Vermont.

The resolution, amid growing concerns over hunger and humanitarian conditions in Gaza, was supported by half of the Democratic Senate members, but Schumer and Gillibrand rejected it.

After police blocked the demonstrators from entering the building, the protesters moved outside and blocked traffic. They also chanted "fund the people, not the bombs."

The demonstrators were then arrested by the police and transported in three buses.

"Our actions are important in shaping the course of history. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have repeatedly supported the sale of weapons to Israel that are used to commit atrocities throughout Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. We call on Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to follow the will of New Yorkers and vote to block the sale of weapons and bulldozers to Israel," said activist Chelsea Manning, who was also arrested.

Manning is also known as one of the former US soldiers and whistleblower who leaked a number of US military atrocities, including providing dark notes from the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One of them, Manning, had released the "Reykjavik 13" document on the WikiLeaks website in February 2010. The document contains conversations between US diplomats who are described as "pressuring" Icelandic government officials.

In addition to Manning, according to a spokesperson for Jewish Voice for Peace, actors Hari Nef and New York City Council Member Alexa Avilés who were involved in this demonstration were also detained.

The demonstration comes as Israel continues its military operations bombing Lebanon and clamping down on Gaza creating a new humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.

A recent poll from the Pew Research Center found that 60 percent of Americans view Israel negatively, up from 42 percent in 2022.

Meanwhile, calls for the US to restrict or condition arms sales to Israel have increased in recent years. However, the US government has continued to choose to be a close ally of Israel; by launching a joint attack on Iran on February 28.

In this demonstration in Manhattan, protesters also called on US senators to reject the additional funding of 100 billion US dollars requested by US President Donald Trump for funding the war against Iran.

Jewish Voice for Peace said more than 300 people participated in the demonstration.