Tense interactions between Palestine supporters, and supporters of Israel during protest Wednesday
May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: A passerby stopped to try to talk with protesters at the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. However, the protesters rebuffed with the man, who offered to have a “respectful dialogue” with them before a friend pulled him away. Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: A passerby stopped to try to talk with protesters at the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. However, the protesters rebuffed the man, who offered to have a “respectful dialogue” with them before a friend pulled him away. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
A small group of protesters gathered Wednesday night at the Monroe County Courthouse for a “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” protest. The interactions between the protesters and passers-by were tense at times.
One protester held a sign reading, “Free Palestine,” as about half a dozen others gathered.
The protest was planned on Facebook with this in the first paragraph of the event description:
“We cannot accept or ignore the ongoing acts of terror and violence against Palestinians on their homeland by militant Israeli colonizers. Come to the courthouse square Wednesday, May 12 from 6-7pm to stand in solidarity with the victims of these brutal attacks and show your support for Palestinian liberation.”
A few honked their horn in support of the protest, but others expressed their disagreement. One passerby in a vehicle chanted, “Israel, Israel …” and then called the protesters, “anti-Semitic.”
A man stopped to talk to the protesters, then said he didn’t want to be documented on video doing so. Another stopped and said he wanted to have a “respectful dialogue” with the protesters but was rebuffed by the demonstrators who accused him of interrupting their demonstration. A friend convinced him to walk away.
Then finally, a man stopped to ask the protesters if they knew what “apartheid” is, or if they are Middle Eastern. A protester said she isn’t Middle Eastern, but has Middle Eastern friends, and the man said in response, “Yeah, I love my friends, too,” as he walked away.
The political situation in Israel is being reported on news sites based in or covering the region.
May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Protesters stand on the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut holding a “Free Palestine” sign during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. The protesters who gathered at 6 p.m. said on a Facebook event page for the protest they are standing in solidarity with Palestinians, but one passerby chanted from a car, “Israel, Israel, and then called them anti-Semites.” (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Protesters stand on the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: A passerby stopped to try to talk with protesters at the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. However, the protesters rebuffed the man, who offered to have a “respectful dialogue” with them before a friend pulled him away. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)May 12, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: A passerby stopped to try to talk with protesters at the corner of Kirkwood and Walnut during the “Bloomington Stands with Palestine” demonstration Wednesday. However, the protesters rebuffed the man, who offered to have a “respectful dialogue” with them before a friend pulled him away. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Rate this post
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 2.4 / 5. Vote count: 5
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Liked it? Take a second to support The Bloomingtonian on Patreon!
