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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Police detained about 200 people protesting. pennsylvania State government investments in Israel were taken into custody on Monday, leading to a demonstration on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.
A spokeswoman for the Department of General Services, which also includes the Capitol Police, said details were being gathered about any allegations and the number of people involved.
Protest organizers said some people were cited for failing to disperse and were released after a short time.
Many of the protesters, wearing T-shirts that read “Freedom from Genocide”, clapped and chanted slogans during the protest, which organizers said was an attempt to block the state Treasury Department’s investment in Israel bonds. Was targeted.
A large sign says the state should reinvest that tax money in health care, housing, schools and climate. Slogans of “Free Palestine” were raised before and after his arrest.
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The event was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the Philly Palestine Coalition and the Pennsylvania Council on American-Islamic Relations. It started outside the Capitol Monday morning but moved to the Rotunda by afternoon.
Lilah Saber of Jewish Voice for Peace said the protests were focused solely on the state’s investments in Israel bonds.
“We didn’t plan on getting arrested, but we got arrested,” Saber said.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacey Garrity, a Republican, said state treasurers from both parties have invested in Israel bonds for more than 30 years. State stake in Israel bonds increased by $20 million after Hamas attack war in gaza And it currently stands at $56 million, Garrity said in a statement released by his office.
The state also holds about $8 million in other Israel-based securities. With $56 million, it represents about 0.14% of funds actively managed by the Treasury Department, Garrity said.
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