Dozens of people were arrested after a crowd of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas War gathered inside and outside of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station on Thursday.
The protesters, made up of faith leaders as well as members of the groups Jewish Voice for Peace-Philadelphia, the Philly Palestine Coalition and IfNotNow Philadelphia, gathered outside the station around 4:45 p.m.
Philadelphia police officers also set up barricades near the station in anticipation of the protest.
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Protest organizers described the demonstration as “the biggest interfaith action for a ceasefire since the recent humanitarian crisis began.”
Protests around the world have occurred in the aftermath of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the Israel-Hamas War that followed.
"We need an outcry from the faith-based community," Dani Noble of Jewish Voice for Peace told NBC10 ahead of Thursday's protest. "From people who care about the lives and dignity of all people. And we have seen so many communities coming together and doing just that and crying out for a ceasefire. Crying out for the end to genocide against Palestinians."
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SEPTA announced the main entrance to 30th Street Station was closed due to the protest. A group of protesters also gathered inside the station.
“We’re out here today to say ‘no business as usual as long as there’s a genocide happening of Palestinians. We’re demanding a ceasefire," Noble said.
SEPTA said the ramp to SEPTA trains was blocked and that passengers were redirected. The protest did not impact any SEPTA service however.
Skyforce10 was over the scene just before 8 p.m. where police and protesters could be seen outside of 30th Street Station. Officers removed dozens of the protesters from the station and placed them on buses.
On Friday, police confirmed with NBC10 that 68 protesters were arrested, removed from 30th Street Station and transported to the 22nd District headquarters for processing. A police spokesperson said all 68 of them were issued a citation for defiant trespass and then released.
Last month, protesters gathered outside and inside of Philadelphia’s City Hall as City Council approved a resolution condemning Hamas’ attacks and calling for a peaceful end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While the protesters told NBC10 that they opposed Hamas, they also said they wanted a public acknowledgment of the impact the Israeli government has had on Palestinian citizens and the suffering they've endured during the conflict.
