Pro-Palestinian protesters block Biden’s way to Congress

WORLD, March 09 (YPA) – Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the road leading to the Congress building to demand a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.  Meanwhile, US media outlets reported the President’s convoy was forced to take a longer route to get from the White House to the Capitol building, to avoid the protests.

Several protests erupted across the United States ahead of Biden’s State of the Union address, demanding a permanent ceasefire in  Gaza.

In Washington, hundreds of protesters gathered near the White House, prompting the police to close a nearby road.

In Boston and Los Angeles, protesters blocked traffic. Police arrested more than 50 protesters in Boston, according to one activist group and a local media report.

“We are here today because enough is enough,” said Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group (CAIR) said the speech was Biden’s “best and perhaps last chance” to announce steps to reduce Palestinian suffering in Gaza.

Senior officials in the US administration had earlier announced that Biden would discuss American plans to build a port in Gaza to ship humanitarian aid.

Hours before the speech, the US Capitol building was surrounded by a high fence of wires, as is customary before the annual presidential address to Congress.

E.M