During a recent protest inside Congress, author Olivia DiNucci and other activists were arrested and forcefully removed by Capitol Police. They were charged with 'crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.' DiNucci criticizes the arrest of peace activists while plans were being made to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she refers to as a war criminal, in Congress. The protest was in response to the ongoing atrocities committed against Palestinians and the thousands of lives lost. DiNucci argues that the real criminals are those being protested against, as they are the ones funding and supporting war crimes. The fight against US militarism is uniting various justice movements. The author also highlights the systemic issues within the US carceral system and the harmful effects of poverty. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for organized and escalated action against US militarism [e38846de].
This incident adds to the ongoing discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the US's role in supporting Israel. It highlights the complexities and divisions within the US political landscape when it comes to foreign policy and human rights. The arrests of peace activists in Congress raise questions about the limits of free speech and the right to protest. The article also sheds light on the growing movement against US militarism and the need for organized action to address systemic issues [24881872].
Donna Park, in a guest commentary, reflects on her experience protesting against the Vietnam War in the 1970s and expresses her continued opposition to war. She argues that wars do not make us safe or secure and that they often create more enemies. Park praises college students who are protesting against the war in Gaza and believes that they are not anti-Semitic but rather anti-war and against the killing of civilians. She encourages people to promote an alternative way to solve conflicts among nations through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the use of law instead of force. Park mentions the recently launched global campaign called Legal Alternatives to War (LAW Not War), which aims to increase the number of states accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ and enhance its jurisdiction by promoting greater use of the option to request Advisory Opinions from the ICJ. She concludes by stating that relying on the force of law instead of the law of force is a better way to address conflicts and keep everyone safe and secure [7c6c0206].