On a November afternoon, multitudes of Texans gathered in downtown Austin, protesting in support of Palestinians and urging a halt to US and Texas aid to Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to KSAT. This protest coincides with the death toll in Gaza (which now exceeds 10,000, with the majority being women and children), igniting international concern over the crisis.
The conflict, initiated on October 7 by a surprise Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, has compelled Israel to launch a significant ground invasion in Gaza. This has resulted in shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, and medical necessities for the local population, reports the Texas Tribune.
Although both the Biden administration and Governor Greg Abbott have expressed their support for Israel, President Biden is facing considerable criticism from his own party. This group includes Texas’s Democratic legislators, such as State Reps Ron Reynolds, John Bryant, Terry Meza, and Ana-Maria Ramos, who are calling on the president to promote a ceasefire and organizing additional humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Protesters in Austin, including some from other Texan cities, gathered outside the Texas Capitol and held signs decrying the use of tax dollars to fund what they believe is a "genocide," and calling for a ceasefire, according to KSAT. Chants such as "Ceasefire Now!" and "Free, Free Palestine Now!" filled the air as they marched along San Jacinto Boulevard, with a banner listing the names of those killed in the Gaza conflict since October 7. The protest was organized by a coalition of pro-Palestine groups, namely, the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Despite voices of dissent, Governor Abbott has adamantly supported Israel. He demonstrated this by visiting Israel earlier in the month to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his support has stirred discontent among the protesters, some chanting, "Abbott, Abbott, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide." Abbott's additional actions—including allocating $4 million to 31 Jewish organizations in Texas for security enhancements and signing an executive order for state agencies to avoid purchasing goods from the Gaza Strip—have also been met with criticism, as reported by KSAT. Furthermore, the Texas Comptroller's Office recently bought $65 million in Israel bonds in response to Hamas's attack, raising the state's holdings in Israel bonds to about $140 million.
The Austin protest remained peaceful, overseen by the Texas Department of Public Safety officers to ensure safety amid the concurrent Texas Book Festival.
