Pro-Palestine protest held in solidarity with police brutality victims
By Jeong Park
Aug. 23, 2014 10:37 p.m.
For the seventh time in nearly two months, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Wilshire Federal Building on Saturday to call for Israel to stop its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
The protest was held in solidarity with individuals who have experienced police brutality following the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9. Protesters held signs relevant to both causes, though the majority of about 100 protesters at the event focused on supporting Palestine.
More than 2,100 Palestinians and 68 Israelis have died since Israel first launched its military operation on July 8, according to the Associated Press, which cited Palestinian health officials and United Nations figures. The majority of people killed are believed to be civilians.
According to Reuters, Egypt has called for a ceasefire between Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip for eight years and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., and Israel.
Khashayar Kash Nikazmrad, a UC Berkeley student who helped plan the protest, said he and other organizers plan to continue demonstrating against violence in Gaza and possibly expand future protests to other areas of the city. He said demonstrations have been held at the Federal Building for the past two months because the site has historically been used for protests.
Pro-Israel supporters are planning to hold a protest at the same site on Sunday afternoon.
Compiled by Jeong Park, Bruin senior staff.
