Tens of thousands of people marched today (Wednesday) in Washington DC to express support for Israel as a Jewish national state, the freeing of the hostages, and oppose antisemitism in all its forms.
The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and involving a broad range of Jewish youth groups and organizations, is meant to counter the wave of pro-Palestinian protests taking place throughout the country since the Hamas massacre on October 7 and Operation Swords of Iron.
Among the supporters attending the march were celebrities Debra Messing, Israeli singers Omer Adam and Ishay Ribo, Democratic Congressmember Ritchie Torres, and the ambassadors to Cyprus, Greece, Jamaica, North Macedonia.
A bipartisan team of Congressional leaders including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican Joni Ernst, Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, as well as President Joe Biden's Envoy Against Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt, also attended and spoke on behalf of Israel and the hostages and against antisemitism in any and all forms, including pro-Hamas statements and actions.
Using the hashtag #MarchForIsrael to magnify the protest's presence on social media, organizers also provided visitors to the March site with social media tools for spreading the protest's message.