A coalition of local groups opposed to continuing military action against Palestinians called on Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) to end their support of American military aid to Israel on Wednesday.

The coalition’s news conference and daylong protest coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress asking for continued support.

Netanyahu’s arrival in the U.S. inspired protests from Pro-Palestinian groups across the nation and in Washington D.C.

Event organizer Stan Santos of Raza Against War said they timed the protest to coincide with Netanyahu’s speech. Santos questioned why lawmakers invited him.

“It’s like whoever had that idea is automatically sending a message that they are going to support him to the very end,” Santos said. “He is here to ask for more weapons and more assistance to continue in power. It’s pretty outrageous. We’re here for two reasons. We want the weapons to stop. We chose today because this is the day that he’s addressing Congress.”

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‘Can’t Just Sit and Not Say Anything’: Protester

The groups Raza Against War, Palestine Liberation Group, Fresno for Palestine, Veterans for Peace, Peace Fresno, Fresno Center for Non-Violence, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom protested outside the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in downtown Fresno.

The protesters’ main goal was to create awareness of the conditions in Gaza. Jovita Harrah, member of Peace Fresno, said protesting is one of the few things she feels she can do to stop what she calls a “genocide.”

“I feel very guilty that our president is continuing the genocide,” Harrah said. “I’m just doing my little bit to bring that to the awareness of our people.”

She said she thinks about if it were her children dying in the Israel-Hamas war.

“It’s really bad, and so I can’t just sit and not say anything,” Harrah said.

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Activists Say Weapon Transfers Violates US Laws

Joshua Shurley, national vice president with Veterans for Peace, labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal.”

“And instead of being condemned, instead of being threatened with arrest, he’s being celebrated, and he’s talking to his minions in Congress to thunderous applause,” Shurley said.

Veterans for Peace in February penned a letter to U.S. officials saying that the government is violating its own policies by supplying Israel with weapons.

The letter said Israel’s actions target civilians and constitute war crimes, violating the Leahy Law, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act, among others.

The Israeli government has long maintained that civilian deaths in Gaza occur because Hamas and other terrorist organizations hide among the non-combatants.

Netanyahu, in his speech Wednesday, said Israel’s war is one of self defense.

“The (International Criminal Court) is trying to shackle Israel’s hands and prevent us from defending ourselves,” Netanyahu said. “And if Israel’s hands are tied, America is next. And I’ll tell you what else is next — the ability of all democracies to fight terrorism will be imperiled.”

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Letter Writing Is Effective Lobbying Tool

Without a big media apparatus, letter-writing campaigns are an effective way to lobby, Shurley said.

“What we as veterans know all too well is that many people that work within the machine, many people that work in buildings like this behind us, they have a sense that something is not right,” Shurley said.

Santos sees President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid as collateral damage for failing to successfully negotiate the end of the Gaza war. In addition, many progressives have lobbied for the U.S. to adopt a tougher stance with Israel, which has leveled Gaza and created a humanitarian crisis there.

Santos praised Vice President Kamala Harris — now the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party — and her calls for ending the war. Santos went on to say the “jury is still out” on whether she is sincere.

“She believes that the war has gone too long, there should be a ceasefire, Kamala Harris has said, I think, speaking from her heart,” Santos said. “However, the political reality will kick in now that there’s an election and we’ll have to see whether that changes.”