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Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down Mass. Ave. bridge on parade day
Protesters demanded the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
Marchers in support of Palestine temporarily closed down the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Demonstrators say they were protesting the detainment of Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil and the U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The protest occurred during an already busy day in the city for local authorities, thanks to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston.
Khalil, a Columbia University grad, was arrested for his role in the university’s protest last year over the war in Gaza. Despite being a permanent U.S. resident, the Trump administration ordered Khalil to be deported to his birthplace of Syria, raising questions about the move’s legality.
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Other protests have also cropped up recently at UMass Amherst and Harvard to show their support for Khalil.
Mahmoud Khalil:
According to the Massachusetts State Police, the Sunday demonstration began in Copley Square, proceeded over the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge and ended in an area of Memorial Drive adjacent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The State Police say the protesters halted traffic on the bridge for about 10 minutes before moving off the roadway.
The State Police say they made no arrests.
The Boston Coalition for Palestine organized the demonstration.
“The tradition of being a Palestinian refugee, of only knowing that his destiny in lifetime and time and time again is to fight for Palestine, so that one day he, amongst a sea of Palestinians, may return in a day of glory … that is what we continue to fight for,” one speaker said, according to a video posted to social media.
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Other protesters held signs reading “Protest Free Speech, Free Mahmoud, Hands off our students,” “Jews for a Free Palestine,” and “End the occupation, rebuild Gaza.”
In one post, protesters were chanting, “Shut it down for Palestine.”
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