Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Washington, D.C., for the "March for Palestine"

Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Washington, D.C., for the “March for Palestine”

Hundreds of people from all across the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C., on April 5, 2025, for the historic “March for Palestine.” The event aimed to show sympathy and solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza who have endured genocide for over 18 months—one of the worst humanitarian crises and slaughters in modern history.

People from countless different backgrounds and many cities made the long journey to demand an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to condemn Israel’s actions against Palestine. The march brought together a diverse coalition united by their shared commitment to justice and human rights.

A large contingent of anti-Zionist Jews was among the hundreds of thousands at the historic march. They carried banners clarifying that Israel has no right to speak on behalf of the Jewish people or their religion. Their presence underscored the distinction between Zionism and Judaism, emphasizing that opposition to Israeli policies does not equate to antisemitism.

Due to the Jewish Sabbath, when travel is prohibited, many participants arrived as early as Friday and made their way on Saturday by walking from their hotels to the protest site.

A painful moment during the protest was when an endless banner, inscribed with the names of all the martyrs in Gaza murdered by Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, was unfurled. The banner served to honor their memories and to show the world the devastating reality of what is happening.

As Rabbi Joseph Kohn, a spokesperson for the group, stated:
“We feel embarrassed after 18 months of genocide while Israel continues to use the Jewish religion to cover up these crimes. We feel it is our obligation to be here at this mass protest to clarify that we demand an end to this injustice, as well as an end to the 76 years of the occupation of Palestine.”

Rabbi Kohn added, “Zionism is not Judaism, and we will continue to stand against Zionism until we see an end to this movement.”

After speeches from many different speakers, the hundreds of thousands of marchers proceeded to walk about a mile to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters.

This move came in response to the escalation of Zionist intimidations targeting pro-Palestinian students and activists standing up for Palestine. The marchers called on the U.S. government to recognize and admire these brave individuals who are standing up for what is right. They urged authorities to protect the rights of activists and ensure that free speech is upheld in the face of growing pressure and harassment.