During rush hour on Monday morning, hundreds of Jewish peace activists and their allies gathered at the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago, blocking the entrance to the Israeli consulate. They demanded that the U.S. provide support for a cease-fire in Israel as the battles in northern Gaza continue.

Organizers stated that the demonstrators traveled from various states including Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois to participate in the protest. The Israeli consulate in Chicago is located in a building connected to the train station, making it a strategic location for the demonstration.

According to Ben Lorber, one of the organizers, over 100 protesters who had blocked escalators leading to the consulate were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing and were escorted out of the building. However, the Chicago police could not confirm this information immediately, and details regarding the number of arrests and the reasons for them were not provided.

The ongoing fighting in Gaza was triggered by Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7th. Israel's response has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction across Gaza. Jewish Voice for Peace, along with other advocacy groups such as IfNotNow and Never Again Action, has been leading similar demonstrations across the United States calling for a cease-fire.

Previously, a sit-in organized by Jewish Voice for Peace took place at New York City's Grand Central Station on October 27th, where a large group of protesters filled the main concourse during evening rush hour. At least 200 demonstrators were detained by the New York police. In Washington, D.C., on October 19th, more than 300 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating, and three individuals were charged with assaulting police officers after protesters gathered on Capitol Hill to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

The Chicago rally stands out from previous Jewish Voice demonstrations as progressive Jewish communities in the Midwest are smaller and more geographically dispersed. Organizers highlighted this fact in a press release, emphasizing the significance of the demonstration in the region.

During the Chicago protest, police led the demonstrators out of the building with their hands zip-tied behind their backs. Many of the protesters wore black T-shirts with the slogan "Not in our name." Clara Belitz, representing IfNotNow Chicago, expressed her opposition to the potential genocide in Gaza during an Instagram livestream of the protest, stating that their Jewish values compelled them to speak out against it.

IfNotNow describes itself as a movement of American Jews organizing to end U.S. support for "the Israeli government's apartheid system." Metra, the city's commuter rail system, confirmed that trains continued to run normally despite the protest. However, the protesters blocked the southern exit of the station, forcing commuters to use alternative exits.

The Israeli consulate in Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the demonstration.