CLEVELAND — Protestors were out in Cleveland's Playhouse Square Monday, not for the leadership forum being held inside, but so city leaders could hear their cries for justice.
The Pro-Palestine demonstration went through Downtown Cleveland, as police kept a watchful eye on the peaceful rally. This all happened during the evening rush hour, with the group eventually making its way to City Hall.
Inside the building, a number of protestors made their voices heard even louder, speaking at the weekly City Council meeting. It was just the latest confrontation between demonstrators and legislators, with the those in the former criticizing city leaders for their support of Israel and members of the latter considering changing the rules for the public comment portion of meetings as a result of the episodes.
"I'm here to ask you to call for a ceasefire in Gaza," Robin Beth Schaer, a poet and essayist who teaches at Oberlin College, said Monday.
"I'm here today because I believe in a future where all people — Jews and Muslims and Palestinians — feel safe," Lucie Shiffman, of Beachwood, added.
At one point, protestors became angry because some councilmembers were on their phones, with one woman swearing and shouting at legislators. Following public comment as Council attempted to conduct its business, the group began chanting "Pass the resolution now!" and "Ceasefire now!" for five minutes. Council President Blaine Griffin defiantly ordered Deputy Clerk Allan Dreyer to keep reading through the noise — "Just keep reading, Allan" — before the chambers eventually cleared out.
Israel's war with Hamas has been ongoing for six weeks. Roughly 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 7, while more than 13,000 have died in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli military began its offensive on the territory.