Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupt first lady’s event: ‘This is a genocide’

Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted First Lady Jill Biden’s event in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday as she was giving a speech on women’s issues. 

The essence of the remarks at the Arizona event was supposed to be on abortion rights as Biden was performing her “Women for Biden-Harris” tour around the country, but early on during her remarks she was interrupted by demonstrators who were calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. 

One of the protestors stood up and yelled “Jill, when are you and the president going to call for a cease-fire in Gaza?” She was later removed from the event by security.  

Another demonstrator screamed “This is a genocide being committed by our tax dollars – women and girls that matter” as she was also removed from the venue. 

President Biden has been regularly confronted with pro-Palestine protestors at his campaign events around the nation, with many activists livid with the way his administration has handled the Israel-Hamas war. The pressure has intensified, especially from the progressives and Democrats in Michigan. 

Earlier this week, organizers behind the Michigan campaign to vote “uncommitted” earned a double-digit backing in the Michigan primary, fueling potential for an alternative candidate come November. 

On Monday, Biden said during his New York trip that a cease-fire in Gaza could take place before next week, stating that months-long talks between Qatar, Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Hamas are getting negotiators closer to reaching a deal. 

Israel reportedly agreed to a framework of a proposed temporary cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza on Saturday, putting the ball in Hamas’ court a day before talks are set to resume in Egypt. 

Criticism of Israel has heightened as more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Biden said that Palestinians need more assistance from the U.S. and others as the conflict crosses into its fifth month.