Detroit JVP Holds Rally & March for a Ceasefire in Gaza

Detroit JVP demonstration on Fri. April 26, 2024.

Detroit JVP rally under close police surveillance, Fri. April 26, 2024.

Detroit JVP rally outside the federal bldg. downtown, Fri. April 26, 2024.

Detroit JVP march down Michigan on Fri. April 26, 2024.

Detroit JVP march and rally outside federal bldg..

Detroit JVP broken break outside the federal bldg..

By Fighting Words Staff

On Friday, April 26, 2024, members and supporters of the Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit  (JVP-D) gathered at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church located on Trumbull and Michigan Avenue.

The motivation for the action was to commemorate the last days of Passover.

Many of the speakers stated that what the State of Israel is doing to the Palestinians contravenes the religious principles of their faith.

The march began outside the Church and headed south down Michigan to the Federal Bldg. where a rally was held. Others then marched towards the center of downtown where the NFL Draft was being conducted.

JVP has been very active since the Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct0ber 7 of last year. During the rally and march, the Detroit Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintained a heavy presence with patrol cars, police vans and armored vehicles following closely in the streets.

This protest took place as the crackdown on activists at more than 100 university campuses unfolded.

Over the following week, more than 900 people were arrested on campuses from New York to California for demanding the divestment of university resources from corporations and others with ties to the government in Tel Aviv.