Jewish Voice for Peace call for Reed to support permanent Gaza ceasefire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Jewish Voice for Peace Rhode Island picketed outside Sen. Jack Reed’s office Thursday calling for the senator to change his stance on the Israel-Hamas War.

The group said that Reed, as the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is responsible for “tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths” due to taxpayer dollars going to military aid to Israel for what the group said is a “genocide in Gaza.”

“The people of Rhode Island need our tax dollars to go to infrastructure, healthcare, education, not to more weapons and destruction and bombs in Gaza,” JVP Organizer Zack Kligler said.

The organization is also asking Reed to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Reed’s office released the following statement when asked for comment:

Peaceful protest is a hallmark of our democracy. Senator Reed has called for Israel to drastically change its tactics, for Hamas to release the hostages, and more aid for Gaza’s civilians.