A protest in the heart of Dallas resulted in nearly a dozen arrests Thursday afternoon after about 20 demonstrators blocked a city road and “planted” an olive tree in the middle of it.
Members of “Jewish Voice for Peace Dallas,” a group allegedly advocating for Palestinian rights, stopped traffic on Market Center Boulevard near the Hilton Anatole Hotel, where the Jewish National Fund Global Conference was in progress, reported Fox 4 KDFW.
The protesters, some carrying signs and chanting slogans against U.S. military support to Israel, also tried to plant an eight-foot olive tree in the middle of the city’s busy roadway. The group then staged a sit-in, blocking traffic for about an hour.
Attendees of the ongoing conference nearby, which focuses on philanthropy and support for Israel, were arriving at the venue as the protest unfolded.
Dallas police responded to the scene around 3 p.m., with officers on horseback moving in to clear the demonstration. Aerial footage captured by Fox 4 KDFW showed the protesters being detained one by one, as the officers removed the olive tree and cleared the roadway soon after.
Police confirmed that 10 individuals were arrested on charges of obstructing a highway, while two others were cited for criminal trespassing. According to Fox 4, all of the arrested protesters were processed and later released.
One of those arrested was a rabbi who had been leading the protesters in prayer at the time of her arrest, according to WFAA. The protesters held a sign reading, “Southern Jews say Stop Funding Genocide.”
Earlier this week, the Jewish National Fund of Canada lost an appeal regarding the revocation of its charitable status, which followed an audit revealing that the organization had used donated funds to support the Israeli military, in violation of Canada’s Tax Code, according to WFAA.
The Jewish National Fund Global Conference, which continues through this weekend, includes notable speakers in politics and business.
As of time of publication, the JNF has not responded to a request for comment regarding the protest.
