“We can and we must stop this. Never again means never again—for anyone.”  
  —Jewish Voice for Peace calls on all people of conscience to stop imminent genocide

“As a Jewish anti-Zionist and a person with a publicly Jewish business . . . I am one voice in a massive chorus of Jewish people that will not let our names or our grief or our historical trauma be used to justify genocide in Palestine.”¹ 
  —October 18, Jewish Voice for Peace protest in Washington, DC

“War crimes by one party do not justify war crimes by another. Obviously 9/11 was a war crime. Obviously, the attacks by Hamas were a war crime. But that does not justify war crimes by the United States in Iraq or by Israel in Gaza.”²
  —October 13, Jewish woman at protest outside Senator Chuck Schumer’s house

In the days since Israel launched its barbaric, genocidal assault on Palestinian Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ criminal murder of Israelis, including civilians, Jewish organizations and many Jewish people have spoken out powerfully and defiantly. They've exposed Israel’s bald-faced lies, denounced its atrocities, and condemned its military campaign as immoral and genocidal.  And they have taken to the streets, organizing protests as well as joining or co-sponsoring other pro-Palestinian protests across the country.

Jewish Voices for Peace, the world’s largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization, has called on “all people of conscience to stop imminent genocide—We can and we must stop this.” Its blog posts near-daily calls to conscience—and action: “All eyes on Gaza. We can’t look away now,” “A Jewish Plea: Stand Up to Israel’s Act of Genocide,” and more.

Another anti-Zionist Jewish group, If Not Now, has started a “No Genocide in Our Name - Ceasefire Now!” campaign: 

Unless we act, our grief will be weaponized to justify the Israeli military's genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza. Judaism teaches us that to save a life is to save the world. That's why even as we grieve for our Israeli and Palestinian loved ones, we are throwing ourselves into the cogs of the war machine to save every life we can.

We're mobilizing thousands of American Jews to join us in demanding Biden and all of our elected officials implement a ceasefire NOW. We will not allow them or the Israeli government to carry out a genocide in our name. We will channel our grief towards securing a future where all Palestinians, Israelis, and Jews are safe.

These statements and actions are extremely important—and impactful. They puncture Israel’s claim to speak for and act in the name of all Jews, and the lie that condemning Israel’s actions equals anti-Semitism. They are upholding the morality that “never again” after the crimes of the Holocaust that led to the extermination of 6 million Jews must mean, “never again to any people” in opposition to the logic of Israel: “never again to my people, and anything we do to prevent that is justified.” Many Jewish voices are exposing the whole history of apartheid and ethnic cleansing that Israel has committed against the Palestinian people since its founding, down to today. 

All this is vital at this moment of great danger and upheaval across the globe. Here are a few examples of some of the protests organized and joined by Jewish groups.

Columbia University, NYC, October 12

Some 500 Columbia students rallied in protest of Israel’s “escalation of ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza” and the West Bank, as well as attacks by the administration and pro-Israel groups on students calling out Israeli atrocities.  The action was jointly organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) at Columbia along with other student groups. 

They wrote: “SJP and JVP are firm in our stance: As we grieve the unjust loss of innocent life, we acknowledge that the root of this violence is oppression. We ask everyone to consider the context of the past 75 years and we compel you to acknowledge, as we do, that a history of brutal occupation has culminated in this moment.”³

Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY, October 13

In an action organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, some 1,000 people gathered at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York for a rally followed by a march to Zionist and prominent Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer’s home. Protesters demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel. A number were arrested in civil disobedience actions.

Harvard University, Boston, October 14 and 18

On Saturday, October 14, nearly 1,000 students gathered in Harvard Yard, the central school plaza, at a rally to reaffirm their support for the Palestinian people and push back on attacks launched against the students. On Wednesday, October 18, several hundred gathered in front of the offices of the president of the university to protest the University’s attacks. 

The rally was led by a mix of Jewish and pro-Palestinian students, all wearing keffiyehs (Palestinian scarves that have become a symbol of support for Palestine).

Boston, October 18

A coalition of Jewish groups led a march to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office demanding Israel agree to a ceasefire. When protesters tried to enter her office and stage a sit in, six were arrested. 

New Haven, Connecticut, October 18

Jewish Voice for Peace marched to a local congresswoman’s office in support of the Palestinian people and to demand a cease fire in Gaza.

Los Angeles. October 19 

Some 50 Jewish protesters carried signs reading “Jews say ceasefire now” and “No war crimes in our name” in a protest outside VP Kamala Harris’ L.A. home. The march was called by If Not Now, which demands an end to “U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system.”

Philadelphia. October 19

Some 100 Jewish people, including If Not Now activists, rallied against Israel’s escalating violence against the Palestinian people, and to demand a ceasefire.

Manhattan, New York, October 21

Jewish and Muslim organizations came together for a rally on the steps of the New York Public Library demanding a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Palestinians and humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. Over 100 were arrested when they sat down in the middle of 3rd Avenue and blocked traffic.