It was a rather eventful start to the 2024 legislative session.
Several hundred activists calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war demonstrated inside the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 3, shutting down proceedings in the Assembly just after it had begun.
Protesters chanted and prayed in the rotunda. They dropped banners from the Assembly balconies that read, “No U.S. funding for Israel’s genocide in Palestine.” They placed poppies in the Capitol, representing Palestinians who have been killed in the conflict.
“We as California’s taxpayers contribute hundreds of millions in military aid to Israel each year while people in our own communities struggle without access to food, homes and healthcare,” said David Jones Krause, a member of IfNotNow, an American Jewish group that opposes Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. “We are Americans committed to the safety and dignity of all people and call on our leaders to stop funding genocide and instead invest in our local communities.”
Speaker Robert Rivas addressed the protests, according to Politico, saying: “This is a difficult moment for our communities here in California and for everyone around the world.”
The Israel-Hamas war, a three-month-old conflict worlds away, is permeating local, state and federal governments — and Sacramento is no different. Aside from the protest, legislators were already moving to address the war this session.
The Legislative Jewish Caucus, of which Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, is a member, sent a letter prior to the start of this session asking colleagues to focus on efforts to address antisemitism on college campuses. The group also wants to ensure that the history of the…
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