Tens of thousands flock to national March for Israel

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Crowds gathered on the National Mall in support of Israel. Associated Press/Photo by Mark Schiefelbein

Tens of thousands flock to national March for Israel

People from across the country on Tuesday filled the National Mall to show support for Israel in the war against Hamas and to protest rising anti-Semitism. Demonstrators also called for the terrorist organization to release about 240 hostages kidnapped last month. The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations organized the rally. Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the crowd via livestream, and U.S. lawmakers and community leaders spoke at the rally.

How was security handled for such a large event? On Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security classified the rally as a “Level 1” security event, its highest risk assessment. Federal law enforcement joined local authorities to monitor the crowd and enforce safety. The National Guard assisted officials at some traffic points in the city.

Dig deeper: Read Ericka Andersen’s column in WORLD Opinions about anti-Semitism worldwide.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.