Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside of the homes of two top officials in the Biden Administration on Christmas day.
The protesters gathered outside of the homes of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington, D.C., and Virginia shouting various chants and calling for Palestine to be free, according to several videos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by The People’s Forum.
“Austin, Austin, come outside,” the protesters wearing yellow vests, some carrying Palestinian flags, shouted. “You cannot stay there and hide!”
🚨BREAKING! Activists send Xmas morning wake-up call to US Secretary of Defense, @SecDef Lloyd Austin, chanting “AUSTIN, AUSTIN, RISE AND SHINE, NO SLEEP DURING GENOCIDE!” #FreePalestine #ShutItDown4Palestine pic.twitter.com/0Yg9SCFbok
— The People's Forum (@PeoplesForumNYC) December 25, 2023
Protesters gathered outside of Sullivan’s house on Christmas day chanting, “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”
🚨HAPPENING NOW: Protesters gather outside of war criminal, @JakeSullivan46’s house in DC to say NO the US-backed Zionist genocide in Palestine! #NoXmasAsUsual #ShutItDown4Palestine pic.twitter.com/uiSnqoDBDf
— The People's Forum (@PeoplesForumNYC) December 25, 2023
Stop Antisemitism, a non-partisan group, slammed the protesters for showing up at Austin’s home on Christmas morning.
“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,'” the group wrote in a post on X.
Virginia – 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.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 25, 2023
We’re not sure who needs to hear this but harassing a four star general who has served his country his entire… pic.twitter.com/ARvTOtHloG
Police reportedly arrived on the scene and threatened to arrest people if the protest was not brought to an end, according to Fox News.
The Biden administration has received backlash regarding its continued support for Israel in the war against Hamas in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
A Democratic Delaware state lawmaker interrupted Vice President Kamala Harris during a Christmas event to question why she had not called for a ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Hamas. The lawmaker, Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton (D-Del.) later revealed that she would not be voting for President Joe Biden or Harris in the 2024 election.
Democratic donors and several interns in the White House have also expressed their frustration with the Biden administration and have called for a permanent ceasefire.