Atlanta joins global rallies for Gaza ceasefire скачать в хорошем качестве

Atlanta joins global rallies for Gaza ceasefire

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered across downtown Atlanta for an International Day of Action in solidarity with Palestinians, joining coordinated rallies held in cities across the United States and around the world. The mobilization drew a broad cross‑section of participants, including university students, faith‑based groups, Palestinian and Muslim community organizations, civil rights activists and local residents, many carrying Palestinian flags, banners reading “Free Palestine,” “Hands off Gaza,” and “End apartheid,” and chanting demands for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The march assembled at a central plaza before winding through major thoroughfares toward the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. Along the route, speakers addressed crowds at several stops, emphasizing civilian suffering in Gaza and urging sustained political pressure on U.S. lawmakers. Community leaders, student organizers, clergy and human rights advocates framed the protest as both a humanitarian appeal and a broader struggle for social justice, linking calls for redistribution of resources at home—“Tax dollars for healthcare, not bombs”—with demands to end military support for Israel. Organizers encouraged concrete actions from attendees: contacting members of Congress, donating to vetted relief organizations, joining future demonstrations and maintaining nonviolent discipline. Police presence was significant throughout the event, with officers closing streets and diverting traffic to accommodate the march. The demonstration remained predominantly peaceful, though tensions briefly rose when a small group of counterprotesters carrying Israeli flags confronted participants at one junction. Authorities segregated the groups, and only a brief exchange of slogans occurred; no serious injuries were reported. Traffic delays affected several intersections and downtown routes during peak hours. The Atlanta action was explicitly coordinated with simultaneous events in major cities—from New York and Chicago to London, Toronto and Cape Town—part of a global day of protest reflecting growing international concern over the humanitarian toll of the Gaza conflict. Organizers and speakers cited recent casualty figures and reports from humanitarian agencies to make the case for an immediate ceasefire, sustained humanitarian corridors and independent investigations into alleged violations of international law. They also urged local elected officials in Georgia to take public stances, suspend certain forms of cooperation with Israel and support measures that prioritize civilian protection.