By Sandra Bookman – WABC
Thousands of pro-Israel protesters packed into Times Square to demand that Congress vote down the proposed U.S. deal with Iran.
The “Stop Iran Rally” has drawn heightened security to the area Wednesday evening as crowds gathered behind police barricades.
Many chanted “Kill the deal!” The United States would agree to lift economic sanctions against Iran in return for measures to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.
President Barack Obama says the U.S. considers Iran an adversary whose activities will be closely monitored.
The president added that this deal would curb Iran’s nuclear program at the same time easing some of the sanctions.
Folks that came out Wednesday are telling Eyewitness News that would be a big and dangerous mistake.
“This Iran deal is, in fact, a crime against humanity. It is the teeing up of a second holocaust for the Jewish people and a crime against humanity for America,” said Dr. Ken Kelmer, a protester.
“Iran talks about death to America every single day, as if signing the treaty, not a treaty, it’s an agreement. As they are signing it, the ink isn’t even dry, and they are holding a major, major mass rally in Tehran screaming ‘Death to America.’ Do we sign treaties with those who are calling for America’s out right destruction?” said Elaine Jacobs, a protester.
At the rally, Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Jewish attorney, said he was “opposing the deal as a liberal Democrat.” He said he believed democracy was “ignored” because the Obama administration negotiated the deal without congressional input.
“That is not the way democracy should operate,” he told the crowd.
In a statement Wednesday, Rep. Peter King, a former chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he attended a classified briefing with Secretary of State John Kerry and “is still convinced that this is a bad deal for America.”
“It was entirely wrong and arrogant for the Obama administration to submit the deal to the U.N. before Congress voted on it,” he said. “It is definitely my intention to vote no on this deal with Iran.”
Desiree Soper of Long Island said she was drawn to the protest because she wanted to voice her opposition.
“I don’t trust Iran,” she said. “They’ll find loopholes.”
Demonstrators also took note that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer did not attend the protest, prompting chants of “Where is Chuck?” from the crowd.
Schumer has said he has not yet decided how he will vote. His spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Organizers estimated about 10,000 people attended the event.
Please call your local New York elected officials right now and make sure they know why it’s important to you, as their constituent, that they vote no.
Senator Chuck Schumer
202-224-6542 (DC Office)
212-486-4430 (NYC Office)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
202-224-4451 (DC office)
212-688-6262 (NYC Office)
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09 – Crown Heights)
202-225-6231 (DC Office)
718-287-1142 (Brooklyn Office)
Rep. Steve Israel (NY-03)
202-225-3335 (DC Office)
718- 875-1675 (Queens)
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney
202-225-5441 (DC Office)
845-561-1259 (Newburgh)
Rep. Eliot Engel (NY-16)
202-225-2464 (DC Office)
718-796-9700 (Bronx Office)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10)
202-225-5635 (DC Office)
212-367-7350 (Manhattan)
Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-04)
202-225-5516 (DC office)
516-739-3008 (Garden City)
Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-17)
202-225-6506 (DC Office)
914-428-1707 (Westchester)
Ask Him to fight Iran deal.
the deal is a danger to Israel very existence, congress can overturn it, but it needs 2/3 majority.
we all must call congresswoman Yvett Clarck and senators Schumer and Gilibrand and demand that they vote against this deal.
we cannot afford to be silence on this vital issue, your actions cam make a difference.
that the media love to take photos of the netura karts..count the ones in the photos…about 20 max? i believe that’s all there are in TOTAL. but they seem to be everywhere and the media love them.
I’m not protesting because im pro israel im protesting because im pro the usa #thisisamistake
its really expensive, and its probably even more expensive last minute, so to speak.
The NK are always protesting. The pictures of them only gives them credence.(if u want to annoy them ever- just splatter egg at them. It ruins silk)
BS”D
to don”t live in NY
the NY Post (that’s a newspaper) reported 8,000 (that’s close to 10,000)
How come they didn’t have any major screens lit up like they had at CTeen.
Not living in NY makes the following a question rather than a statement:
1) From the pics, it seems the numbers were significantly less than 10,000.
2) Even if 10,000 did show up, is that all NY can do, with a population of hundreds of thousands within the city, and millions total outside of the city but within an hour, this is less than 1% of all the Jews living there!
3) Why is there a need for more than one picture of NK showing their filth, and how they have removed themselves from Yiddishkeit?
Way to go Mr. and Mrs. G!!!
all Jews have learned their lesson by now, and never vote for the anti-Israel Democrats ever again. It’s mind-blowing that the USA will be releasing $150 BILLION to the world-sponsor of terrorism and will help Iran against any attacks to their nuclear sites. The world has left Israel alone. Only Hashem can help us now.
Obama want to make a deal with the people of his own blood before he lives his presidency status in November We shud daven and say tehilims with the intention of nullifyng his harmful intentions
May Hashem help us now, in a revealed way.
It’s sad, but not unexpected to see those uneducated good-for-nothing Neturei Karta people waving Iranian flags. They don’t realize that there will be no “peaceful dismantling of the state of Israel” if Iran has nukes.
so when 10,000 people protest not one street is closed down
when 100 African american protest a criminal the city shuts down