Thousands protest at NJ campuses and in NYC, displaying activism not seen in years

Students walked out of classrooms, protesters crowded Newark streets during rush hour, and mourners unrolled a scroll with 10,000 names of the dead in Paterson’s Federal Plaza.

The protests, which took place across New Jersey on Thursday, were part of a global day of action dubbed “Shut it down for Palestine” to call for an immediate cease-fire for Gaza. The actions underscore how the Israel-Hamas conflict has gripped politics at the state and national level, sparking a level of activism not seen in years.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have directed ire at elected officials over their support for billions in military aid to Israel and failure to call for a cease-fire to end Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. But politicians are also facing pressure from Israeli supporters who urge them to stand in solidarity with Israel and the hostages who were taken by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The intensity over the conflict is seen in the daily stream of protests, phone and email campaigns and letter writing efforts over the past month. In Paterson on Thursday, about 150 protesters gathered and unfurled a 30-foot-scroll with names of the dead across the floor on the street outside the office of Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.

“Families are being wiped off the face of the earth. Congressman Bill Pascrell, you must stop this. You must support a cease-fire now,” said Dalal Abuassi, who said 41 of her family members had been killed in Gaza. Surviving relatives are starving and drinking dirty water, she said.

Yusra Matari, of Clifton, said her cousin, 19, was killed by Israeli soldiers on Monday while on his way to visit friends in their West Bank town. She said she felt "utterly betrayed" by Democrats. Arab and Muslim Americans have largely supported Democrats in elections, but feel their concerns have been ignored during this conflict.

"I want them to know they have exploited us and they have turned their backs on us,” Matari said.

Protestors at universities and government offices

In Newark, hundreds rallied outside the office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker and marched outside the busy Gateway Center and Newark Penn Station to call for a cease-fire. They tried to visit Booker's office and deliver a list of names of those killed but weren't allowed inside.

"We wanted him to see the list so he can see the dire situation, the degree of loss of life," said Wassim Kanaan, chairman of the New Jersey Chapter of American Muslims for Palestine. "He needs to see their names, that they are human, that they existed, that they are not just numbers."

The efforts came four days after an election rally with Booker in South Brunswick came to a halt as protesters held up red-stained hands and erupted in shouts of “cease-fire now."

At Rutgers and William Paterson universities, students held sit ins and joined protests, while in New York City, thousands also took part in a pro-Palestinian march, shutting down traffic in mid-Manhattan. Crowds also filled lobbies at the New York Times building, accusing the company of bias in coverage, and the headquarters of BlackRock asset management firm, protesting its investments in weapon manufacturing.

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Protests mounting as death toll increases

The protests come as the death toll rises to over 10,800 Palestinians, including more than 4,400 children, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. In the occupied West Bank, at least 178 Palestinians have also been killed in settler violence and Israeli raids, Reuters reported.

In Israel, 1,400 people were killed during the Hamas attack and 239 hostages were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Another 33 soldiers have been killed in Israel's ground offensive in Gaza. Across the state, many Jewish organizations were gearing up this week for a March for Israel on Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C., which organizers said is intended to show solidarity with Israel.

"It’s imperative that America sends a resounding message of support to our ally that we stand in solidarity with the victims, hostages, and their families, that we reject extreme anti-Israel rhetoric and sentiment, and that we are united around shared values of peace, justice, and freedom," William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, based in New York City, said in a statement.

Israel implementing four-hour pauses for aid

Elected officials are trying to maintain support for Israel while also placating outraged constituents. Addressing the protests earlier this seek, Booker said in a statement that a humanitarian pause is needed to protect civilians, facilitate release of hostages and help lifesaving aid reach Gazans.

"The threat of Hamas must be dismantled and we must redouble our efforts toward achieving a lasting peace that guarantees Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and ensures the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a state of their own," Booker said.

On Thursday, Israel agreed to daily four-hour pauses in military operations across northern Gaza, a move that will help entry of humanitarian aid in and allow citizens to safely flee fighting.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Israel-Hamas war: NJ protestors turn up in record numbers