This week saw Rochester mobilize twice to denounce the ongoing massacre happening against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, December 30th around 70 people came out for a national day of action against Israeli state violence in front of the federal building in Downtown. On Friday, January 2, some 200+ people came out again for a vigil to mourn the loss of life in Gaza which was called for by the Islamic community of Rochester. The vigil started at the federal building but moved and congregated at State and Main.

"We're out here to express our rage, our anger of what's happening in Gaza. We're here to express our sympathy and support for the people who are dying and starving in Gaza. What's happening is Gaza is becoming almost a genocide," said Aly Nahas at the January 2 vigil.

Nadia Amireh, who attended the demonstration on December 30 said, "I'm here today with all these wonderful people to raise awareness about what's happening to all our brothers and sisters in Gaza and to show that we are aware of US aid to Israel that are being used to kill a lot of innocent children and civilians."

Also at the December 30 demonstration was Aunali Khaku who expressed incredulity that, "We [the US] give around 3 billion dollars of aid to Israel at a time when we are in recession at a time when we have a debt of around a trillion dollars; we just give 3 billion dollars to them and they use this for weapons to kill women and children."

But it wasn't just Rochester that came out on December 30th. According to Zeyad Saeed's account and Workers World Party, Buffalo, NY had a terrific turnout with some 200 people, mostly Palestinian, some Yemeni and other Arab youth; a spirited group of 30 were out in Ithaca, NY, according to Tompkins County Against War and Occupation, and just northeast of Ithaca, Syracuse, NY had near 100 people, according to Richard Vallejo's account of Syracuse.

Video:
From Rochester, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2: Rochester Demonstrations against the Seige of Gaza
From Ithaca, NY, Dec. 30: Protest against the Israeli War on Gaza

Photos:
From Rochester, Dec. 30: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
From Buffalo, Dec. 30: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
From Ithaca, Dec. 30: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
From Syracuse, Dec. 30: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Additional Information: Palestine Bleeds; the World Shudders | A Massacre in Palestine - Responses and Developments | Today We Stop The War | Gaza Protests across the United States Demand an End to Israel's Aggression | Israel Begins Gaza Ground Assault | Israel Rains Death and Destruction over Gaza | Bombing People Creates More Terrorism: a Peace Council Statement on the Mid East | Locals showing their support for GAZA and humanity | "Silence Is Not An Option," Say Protesters | Ithaca, NY Protest against the Israeli War on Gaza