Congressional staff took a taxpayer-funded break from work Thursday to walkout of their offices and protest Israel‘s war against Hamas.
The organized action took place just before the House is expected to vote on a bill to force Biden to deliver congressionally-approved military aid to Israel.
‘Big peaceful staff action TODAY before the vote to force Biden to send more weapons to Israel,’ the Congressional Progressive Staff Association posted on X.
A flyer announcing the protest said ‘We encourage staff to remove identifiable clothing and wear masks as reporters and photographers may be present.’
In total, roughly 30 staffers walked out in support of Gaza.
Congressional staffers held a walk out in support of Gaza ahead of a vote aimed to force President Joe Biden to deliver bombs to Israel
About half of the crowd dawned masks to protect their identities.
A brief procession occurred with the 30 or so staffers walking carrying a sign that said ‘Your staff demands you save Rafah.’
‘Staff are encouraged to wear a mask and put your Staff ID in your pocket instead of on your belt or clothing,’ a memo announcing the walkout stated.
Staffers refused to provide their names and which offices they worked for when pressed by DailyMail.com.
Though one staffer, Sam Elghanayan, led the walk out and delivered brief remarks in support of Palestinians confirmed she worked for Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.
‘Today we are once again gathered as congressional staff because too many of our bosses have failed to act.’
‘The American people are calling their members of Congress every day to demand the United States take steps to stop the assault on Gaza, and lead with a moral clarity that saves lives,’ she continued.
Progressive ‘Squad’ member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., praised the staffers for their protest.
‘I am so happy for the staff that stand up and showing that humanity is first,’ she told DailyMail.com.
Her fellow ‘Squad’ member Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., similarly supported the staffers.
‘I think this is just an issue that matters to a lot of people and it’s a very difficult, big moral issue for people and I think people feel the need to express themselves.’
A third member of the progressive group, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told DailyMail.com ‘I commend them because unfortunately, when you just exercising what is your constitutional right to peacefully assemble, you can risk your life, you can risk your livelihood.’
‘And so I commend them for putting themselves at risk in that way.’
Democrat colleague rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida also heaped praise on the demonstrators.
‘We gotta keep fighting for a ceasefire and the pressure we’ve seen outside is really helped on the inside on pushing people, the president, everybody to do more.’
‘So everyone has to keep making their voices heard.’
One staffer, shown front left, told the crowd that she works for Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., after delivering a short speech in support of Gaza
Another group of Capitol Hill staffers arrived before the pro-Gaza demonstrators carrying American flags
In total, the walk out lasted just a handful of minutes.
Originally, the walkout was planned earlier in the week, but organizers bailed on the demonstration last minute because it was raining.
Additionally, a small group of staffers showed up to counter protest the pro-Gaza walkout carrying American flags.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .