Biden arrives in Boston, met by pro-Palestine protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
By Haley Clough, WEBN
Pro-Palestine protesters protested as President Joe Biden arrived in Boston on Tuesday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and stopping all funding for Israeli defense forces. Rally-goers met on the corner of Tremont Street and Stuart Street mid-afternoon for a picket, walking in a large circle and eventually transitioning to PSL organizers giving statements.
Organizers from Boston’s Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) led chants against Biden, who was at the Shubert Theatre. Biden attended a benefit concert for his campaign, featuring a performance by musician James Taylor.
Through megaphones, speakers led the crowd in shouts of: “Biden, Biden, you’re a liar, we demand a ceasefire,” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Genocide Joe has got to go.” Protesters from across Boston carried signs, waved Palestinian flags, and wore traditional keffiyeh scarves.
Biden’s presence reignited anger towards his decisions regarding the defense of Israel, similar to Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Boston in early November, where Boston’s PSL met her outside the Ritz-Carlton on Avery Street.
A Boston PSL member and organizer, who goes by JD, said the rally is making it clear to Biden that he is not welcome.
“Just as we made it clear to [Kamala Harris] that she is not welcome, we are making it clear to [President Biden] that he is not welcome…Wherever they go, we will show up, and we will make it loud and clear that until they do right by the Palestinian people, there will be no peace,” he said.
Boston’s PSL is continuing the pattern of pro-Palestine rallies erupting across the nation as Biden travels. Protests have occurred in Atlanta, Washington, Denver, Washington D.C. and even near Biden’s Delaware home, and continue to follow him in his appearances and fundraisers, campaigns and holiday events.
Biden’s approval rating has dipped to 37%, according to a new survey by CNN. The Harvard Kennedy School of Politics also observes a 35% approval rating among young adults between 18 and 25.
Joe Tache, an organizer with PSL, said people’s disapproval of Biden is due to his lack of affirmation.
“He’s promised better infrastructure, fixing bridges and roads, canceling student debt, free childcare, free college, and he hasn’t delivered on any of his major promises,” Tache said. “And when it comes to opening up the purse strings and spending millions of dollars on war and destruction, he’s happy to do that, and in fact, demands more and more money being spent on these things.”
PSL member Andira agreed.
“All this money is going to war and giving money to Israel to bomb Gaza; we could be funding our educational system, our infrastructure…We demand that our tax dollars don’t go to Israel and [that they don’t] commit these crimes in our names.”