By The newspaper
Mar 31, 2024, 10:48 PM EDT
Three men were arrested by police after standing with other activists in front of believers at the Easter mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. The individuals came to the altar with a blanket that said “Silence=Death.”
The information was provided by the group Extinction Rebellion NYC (XR NYC), which organized the protest event and which defines itself as a group of activists in defense of the environment and against genocide, which published a statement on social networks this Sunday. .
They went up to the altar in the middle of the Easter mass
“Activists interrupt #Easter Vigil Mass at #SaintPatricksCathedral to demand that all religious leaders take immediate and vocal action against genocide and ecocide #FreePalestine #SilenceEqualsDeat,” was what they wrote on social media.
The news of the event, which took place in the middle of the mass, is accompanied by a video where you can see the people at the altar with the blanket, at that moment the security personnel took it away from them and pushed them to remove them from the altar.
The group of people were expelled from St. Patrick’s Cathedral through one of the side doors, and while they were pushed out, the men chanted “Free Palestine” in the church.
They sang in Latin in front of the believers
“Activists rose to sing “Dona Nobis Pacem” (grant us peace in Latin), to echo Christ’s words, ‘blessed are the peacemakers,’” wrote Extinction Rebellion NYC.
He added: “However, security agents threw the activists to the ground, the Cathedral refused to suspend the service and continued to remain silent about the humanitarian crisis.”
One protester, identified only as Matthew M., said he believed churches calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza could “make a difference.”
Demonstration in Times Square
Shortly before, a demonstration was held in Times Square that brought together a large number of pro-Palestinian people demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, EFE said.
“We are here to speak the truth about ‘ecocide’ and genocide as loudly as this moment requires,” John Mark Rozendaal of XR NYC’s Palestine Solidarity shouted in the church, according to local media.
“The war poisons the air and water in Gaza”
The statement notes that “war, occupation and industrial pollution are poisoning the soil, air and water in Gaza and across the planet, destroying the Earth’s ability to support life.”
“This destruction is called ‘ecocide,’” said Gregory Schwedock of Palestine Solidarity at XR NYC.
The group also indicated on the social network that the UN Security Council’s call for a ceasefire is “a good start,” but “the churches’ statements on the ceasefire are also part of the solution.”
With information from EFE
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