Mayor Bloomberg's high-profile support for Israel's actions against Hamas—from press conferences to actually traveling to Israel—has not gone unnoticed. Yesterday, a group of protesters gathered outside City Hall to throw shoes at Bloomberg (okay, a picture of him).
The Break the Siege on the Gaza Coalition sent a press release saying, "How dare billionaire Bloomberg rush to Israel to back crimes against the people of Gaza and to support sending billions of dollars more to fund Israeli war crimes, while cutting city services, slashing school and health programs and laying off workers right here in New York City!" The marchers headed from City Hall to Foley Square, yelling, "Bloomberg, Bloomberg, shame on you."
City Councilman Charles Barron said, "He doesn't speak for all New Yorkers. And we need to be politically strong. Don't be afraid to stand up and say that Israel is wrong. There should be an immediate cease-fire, an immediate withdrawal from Palestinian territory, an immediate ending of the blockade." Another protester had more pointed words for NY1, "When he goes to Israel to show his support and unconditional love towards the Israelis, I think it sends a double-standard message to the New Yorkers that he is the mayor of certain people." Today, Israel fired rockets at 60 targets in Gaza.
