IfNotNow NYC and all people standing for freedom and justice are calling on Senator Chuck Schumer to condemn the violence against unarmed Palestinians protestors.

On March 30th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on protesters in Gaza, killing 17 and injuring over 1,400 — over half of whom were injured after being shot with live ammunition.

On April 6th, the second week of protests, 7 more Palestinians were killed and over 250 were shot with live fire.

The decision of the IDF to shoot protesters in prayer, running away, or waving a flag is not just clearly a violation of international law: it is a moral crisis.

Nonetheless, leaders in the political and Jewish communities have been largely silent. In particular, as the Democratic Senate Minority Leader and a major figure in the American Jewish community, the silence of Senator Schumer has been deafening.

To condemn the shooting of unarmed protesters is neither bold nor brave: it is the bare minimum we should expect from any moral leader.

In fact, just hours after the news reports of Israeli violence began pouring in on Friday, March 31, Senator Bernie Sanders asserted:

“The killing of Palestinian demonstrators by Israeli forces in Gaza is tragic. It is the right of all people to protest for a better future without a violent response.”

Sanders also recognized the effects of Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, properly calling it a “humanitarian disaster.”

We call on Chuck Schumer to immediately and unambiguously express that this and any future violence against unarmed Palestinian protesters is unacceptable.