DC police arrest agitators who blocked roads in protest of US suspension of UNRWA funds

The protestors gathered around a large intersection at Union Station, a usual location for traffic to go to and from the Capitol building, and started blocking traffic while chanting slogans such as, "We demand liberation!" and "free, free Palestine!"

Drivers sounded their horns in response to the demonstrators blocking traffic in front of the train station.

Police began to make arrests of the protesters, who began sitting down in the road holding their picket signs to block traffic.

Footage of the protest was posted by the activist organization US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. The organization published the videos after posting a campaign announcement to call congressional offices to demand that US representatives refund the UNRWA.

The group’s website, which the post on X links to, instructs activists to call their Senators and then use a script that reads, "Hello, my name is [FIRST AND LAST NAME], and I'm a constituent of [SENATOR'S NAME]. I am horrified that my government has cut humanitarian funding to UNRWA, which will starve Palestinian refugees in Gaza to death. The International Court of Justice just found Israel is plausibly committing genocide. Soon after the ruling, the US cut funding to UNRWA, killing Palestinians who need that aid to survive. Starvation is a form of collective punishment that further grounds our charges of genocide. I'm furious that my government cut aid with zero investigation, while denying the vast evidence presented in court that Israel is committing genocide."

"The Senator must take immediate action to stop the genocide, now. That means reinstating UNRWA funding, calling for a PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, and stopping any further weapons or funding to the Israeli military. The Senator must VOTE NO on the $106 billion deadly deal to fund weapons to Israel and border militarization. Anything less means blood on their hands," the campaign script continues.

A similar script is used to call House representatives. Demands of the protesters, who blocked the roads in DC and were then promptly arrested, included to refund the UNRWA.