Hundreds gathered outside the New York Stock Exchange to demand an end to U.S. military support for Israel amid escalating tensions in Gaza and Lebanon. The protest was organized by Jewish Voices for Peace and it saw 206 participants detained by NYPD. Protesters called for an arms embargo and immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. They claim politicians are benefiting from the genocide of Palestinians financially.
Protest Overview
On October 14, 2024, a significant protest unfolded at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with activists demanding that the U.S. cease military support for Israel. Approximately 500 protesters, organized by Jewish Voices for Peace, engaged in a sit-in. Demonstrators wore red shirts and bore messages such as “Jews say stop arming Israel” and “Not in our name,” expressing their stance against providing additional military aid to Israel.
The group organized the protest in response to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. The demonstrators highlighted the ethical concerns of profiting from conflict, emphasizing their demands for an arms embargo and immediate ceasefire in the region.
Proud to join hundreds of NYers with @jvpliveNY to shut down the NY Stock Exchange demanding an arms embargo & immediate ceasefire.
While Palestinians starve under Israeli’s bombardment, Wall Street makes record profits. We demand healthcare, housing & FEMA, not bombs. pic.twitter.com/v3C6gLU7tU
— Claire Valdez (@claireforqueens) October 14, 2024
Response and Repercussions
Despite the scale of the protest, trading at the NYSE remained undisturbed, with security measures implemented to prevent access to the trading floor. Protesters managed to breach the perimeter and chained themselves to the gates and fences, prompting NYPD to detain 206 protestors. The event gained attention for its peaceful, yet unlawful conduct, as the protestors were carefully removed by law enforcement.
“As the Israeli assault of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon continued on Monday, over 200 Jewish-led protesters, including descendants of Holocaust survivors, were arrested at the New York Stock Exchange while demanding that the United States ‘stop arming Israel and profiting from genocide,” according to commondreams.org.
While the protest was primarily Jewish-led, it also attracted counterprotesters who waved Israeli flags and opposed the demonstrators’ message. The protest coincided with ongoing military actions in the region, including a controversial Israeli strike in Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties.
Jewish anti-Israel protesters were arrested after storming the New York Stock Exchange. https://t.co/11D8ZBfnbG pic.twitter.com/CSoRAI75Ri
— New York Post (@nypost) October 14, 2024
Broader Implications
The protest underscored the growing discontent with the perceived link between the U.S. economy and international military conflicts. Activists from Jewish Voices for Peace pointed out that weapons manufacturers’ stocks have surged, raising questions about the morality of profiting from prolonged conflict. Calls for legislative action to prevent politicians from benefiting personally from defense stock manipulations have gained traction among some lawmakers.
“The reason we’re here is to demand that the U.S. government stop sending bombs to Israel and stop profiting off of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” said Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace, the group that organized the demonstration.
The protest not only aimed at halting U.S. military support to Israel but also at sparking broader public and governmental reflections on the ethics of foreign aid and national policies. As the world observes these rising tensions, the demand for peace and humanitarian action continues to reverberate.
