Pro-Palestinian protests near homes of Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan
Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators converged Monday on the homes of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, hoping to disrupt Christmas morning for two of President Biden’s top foreign affairs officials.
“Austin, Austin, rise and shine, no sleep during genocide!” demonstrators were heard shouting in one of several clips shared by the far-left organization The People’s Forum.
Other clips showed protesters chanting the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” widely understood as a genocidal call for Israel and its people to be wiped off the map.
Still other videos showed protesters chanting the standard “Free Palestine,” along with demands for a cease-fire by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip.
The People’s Forum has opposed Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas against the Jewish state, which killed an estimated 1,200 people — including 33 Americans.
The group also helped to orchestrate the infamous Oct. 8 rally in Times Square, during which Israeli flags were burned and a swastika was flashed toward pro-Israel counter-protesters.
Austin has traveled to Israel several times since Oct. 7 and helped run the Biden administration’s logistical and military support to the Jewish state.
It was not immediately clear whether he or Sullivan were home at the time of the demonstration.
“Pro Palestinian agitators show up to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s home and harass him, as well as his entire neighborhood, this Christmas morning,” the non-partisan Stop Antisemitism group wrote on X.
“We’re not sure who needs to hear this but harassing a four star general who has served his country his entire career will not ‘Free Palestine.’”
In a group chat to encourage locals to show up to the demonstration, activists vowed there will be “No Xmas as usual during genocide!”
“No member of this administration-from those who fund to those who arm to those who co-sign genocide will be allowed rest while they enable the zionist [sic] aggression against Gaza. Join us NOW! No rest for imperialist war criminals!” they wrote in a private Telegram chat.
Eventually, police intervened and threatened arrests, prompting the crowd to disperse and head to the DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, per the Telegram channel.
In DuPont, the activists held a rally near Sullivan’s home making similar demands of him to push for a cease-fire.
The People’s Forum described Sullivan as “another war criminal.”
The Post contacted the City of Falls Church Police Department and DC’s Metropolitan Police Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The Biden administration has taken heat from the left over its staunch backing of Israel and its vow to destroy Hamas.
However, the White House has privately implored Israel to begin wrapping up operations in a matter of weeks, and to pay greater mind to civilian casualties.
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