Protesters gather outside Sec. Austin’s house on Christmas to demand end to Israel support

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant (R) hold a joint press conference after their meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel on December 18, 2023. (Photo by Israeli Ministry of Defense/Ariel Hermoni/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Protesters gathered outside U.S. Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin’s house on Christmas day to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

An activist coalition formed between the Shut It Down for Palestine coalition, the Palestinian Youth Movement and the ANSWER Coalition gathered outside Austin’s house and demanded, “No Christmas as usual during a genocide! Ceasefire NOW!”

The protesters argue that Israel can only maintain its war effort because of financial and political support from the U.S.

In a press release issued after the protest, the groups expressed anger over several trips taken by U.S. officials to Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli officials in shows of support, including Austin, who said during his trip that “America’s support for Israel’s security is unshakeable.”

The groups promised to “continue to put the pressure on until [America’s] support of war crimes is rendered completely unsustainable.”