- A Capitol Police official reported that some 300 persons were detained by the agency during a significant demonstration against the Israel-Hamas conflict on Wednesday.
- Prior to the arrests on Wednesday, hundreds of people had congregated inside and outside the U.S. Capitol building. According to the police spokeswoman, some of the protesters, who had been coordinated by a left-wing Jewish organization, later entered the Cannon House Office Building through several security entrances and gathered in the rotunda.
- The large-scale demonstration follows a similar event at the White House earlier this week that also resulted in dozens of arrests.
- According to the police spokeswoman, protesters have the same access to the Capitol complex as everyone else and only run the risk of getting in trouble with the law when they start to cause a disruption.
- Law enforcement sources claim that on Wednesday, police from neighboring jurisdictions—including the Virginia State Police and the Metropolitan Police of Washington—were requested to assist at the facility.
- Some lawmakers, who have offices in the Cannon House Office Building, chided the demonstrators.
Source:
ABC News
