Demonstrators fill Fairview Heights overpass in support of Palestine

Demonstrators gathered over an overpass in Fairview Heights Friday to call for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza, reflecting the thoughts of pro-Palestinians in the metro-east.

The protest began at 4 p.m. and was held on the Bunkum Road bridge over Interstate 64. Demonstrators stood on both sides of the bridge with red and green flares, waving Palestinian flags and large signs reading “Stop U.S. funding genocide” and “ceasefire now.”

According to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip, more than 27,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the conflict Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed 1,200 people. The Associated Press reports that about 250 people were taken hostage in Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 and dozens remain in captivity after over 100 were released in November.

The Fairview Heights protest was organized by Solidarity Coalition STL/Metro East, who describes themselves as “a coalition of social justice affinity groups organizing and fighting for racial, social, economic and environmental justice for all.”

The Bunkum Road protest was one of five locations featuring demonstrations on Friday, the rest being in Missouri.

Amongst the crowd was Jeffrey “J.D.” Dixon, who ran as a write-in candidate for Belleville mayor in 2021.

“Our tax dollars are paying for the bombs that are killing children, that are killing women, that are killing families,” Dixon said.

“They are wiping out entire bloodlines. And we’re paying for it. They’re forcing us to pay for the killing of thousands of innocent people.”

This story was originally published February 3, 2024 at 11:00 AM.