In a bid to strain San Antonio Metropolis Council to challenge a decision calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Professional-Palestinian protesters aired their grievances Saturday afternoon at Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s doorstep — or a minimum of the gates of his upscale neighborhood.
Roughly 100 protesters marched from the southwest intersection of Wurzbach Street and Northwest Navy Drive to the gated neighborhood of Summerfield Estates, demanding Nirenberg name for a ceasefire and finish San Antonio’s friendship metropolis standing with Tel Aviv, Israel.
Nirenberg spokesperson Bruce Davidson did not reply to a request for remark.
Different metropolis councils nationwide, together with these of Atlanta; Detroit; Akron, Ohio; Oakland, California; Windfall, Rhode Island; and Wilmington, Delaware, have signed their resolutions calling for a ceasefire within the battle.
The protest in entrance of Nirenberg’s neighborhood is the most recent escalation by pro-Palestine protesters, who’ve been attending public talking classes at Metropolis Corridor for greater than a month.
Protesters gathered beginning at 2 p.m. on the intersection carrying indicators studying “Let Gaza Stay.” The group chanted “Apartheid Ron.”
Replace from the protest in North Central San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/1nZRPO94dA
— Michael Karlis (@MichaelKarlis) December 9, 2023
About an hour into the protest, Mike and Robin Fozano — self-described “exiled patriots” from San Diego who not too long ago moved to San Antonio to “escape ANTIFA” — started heckling the demonstrators, accusing them of harassing the native Jewish neighborhood.
Certainly, Central San Antonio, not removed from Shavano Park, boasts numerous Jewish residents. Furthermore, the protest’s first section occurred throughout the road from the Barshop Jewish Neighborhood Middle.
Nonetheless, Future Lang, an organizer from the Social gathering for Socialism and Liberation’s San Antonio Chapter, advised the Present that the situation had nothing to do with the realm’s ethnic make-up.
“We selected that intersection as a gathering level as a result of it was the one spot to securely collect that was each near Ron’s home and had obtainable parking,” she stated.
The Barshop Jewish Neighborhood Middle did not instantly reply to requests for remark.
‘They do not belong right here’
Later, organizers carrying a banner studying “Mayor Ron Professional Genocide” marched to the gates of Summerfield Estates to the annoyance of the some neighbors.
“They should go away and allow us to reside in our neighborhood in peace. They do not belong right here,” resident Lucy Ageros advised the Present.
At the least two police autos had been parked contained in the gated neighborhood through the protest. Regardless of the pleas of Ageros and different neighbors, SAPD did not intrude within the demonstration.
“They’re obstructing our entrance, our exit, and so they must be taken out of right here,” Ageros stated. “This isn’t peaceable once they’re blocking our entrance and our exit. It additionally hinders the protection of our public officers.”
The protest remained peaceable throughout its three-hour length, nonetheless. No members appeared to dam site visitors or trigger injury to personal property.
Protesters Faiza Nguyen, a Muslim, and Corrie Rosen, who’s Jewish, got here collectively to gentle a menorah whereas others constructed a brief shrine to honor the 18,000 Palestinians who’ve died for the reason that battle in Gaza started on Oct. 7.
“I used to be born, was raised and can die a Muslim,” Nguyen advised the gang. “And I’ve a Jewish sister over right here with me, and he or she says, ‘Not in my identify,'” Nguyen stated, pointing to Rosen, who was carrying an indication that stated, “Not in my identify. Jew In opposition to Genocide.”
“Judaism just isn’t Zionism,” Rosen stated right into a microphone.
Ultimately, six SAPD squad automobiles arrived at Summerfield Estates. Nonetheless, by the point the officers arrived, the protesters dispersed. They stated that they had been tipped off that reinforcements had been on the best way.
Organizers stated that they may proceed to point out up in mass at council conferences till their calls for are met.
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