Protests continue in DC, causing additional road closures day of Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — Hundreds of protestors flooded the streets of D.C. as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to address Congress Wednesday.

This comes at a time when U.S. leaders are hoping to make progress on ending the Israel-Hamas War. Netanyahu’s visit prompted numerous road closures and restrictions across the District and additional security measures were set in place.

However, as tension continued to rise, demonstrators from around the country including New York, Ohio, traveled to D.C. to join protests.

“Congress has invited a war criminal and we are out here to show we don’t support this. We do not support 10 months of ongoing genocide,” said protestor, Hasan Isham.

As of Wednesday afternoon, protestors rallied in Capitol Hill where a large stage was set up for demonstrators.

“I decided to come out here to make sure that even though there’s a lot of bullies out here I am going to stand up for what I believe is right and for our country’s values which is freedom and democracy,” said one protestor.

“I am here because I believe that the welcoming of a war criminal in D.C. or anywhere is completely unacceptable and I believe our government, especially Joe Biden has kind of swept it under the rug,” added another protestor.

Over the past 48 hours, protests have sparked in the District, and on Tuesday night, U.S. Capitol Police arrested about 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the Capitol. According to officials, the group was arrested for crowding, obstructing or incommoding inside the Cannon House Office Building.

With protestors expected to continue throughout the afternoon, D.C. police announced that the following roads are blocked off, as of Wednesday afternoon:

• 3rd and Maryland Ave towards Independence Ave
• 3rd and Independence towards 4th Street, SW.
• 12th Street Tunnel
• East Capitol Street between 4th and 6th Street SE
• 3rd. and Pennsylvania Avenue
• 4th and A Street SE
• 4th and Maryland Avenue

To stay up to date on road closures, click here .

In an update shortly after 1:50 p.m., the U.S. Capitol Police said they had begun pepper spraying protesters. Five people in the House Gallery who disrupted the address were arrested.

At that time, the bulk of protesters were making their way toward Union Station’s Columbus Circle.

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