Dozens rally in Downtown Pittsburgh for Gaza ceasefire

Karim Alshurafa lost seven family members in the first week of fighting in Gaza.

He lost two more the next week.

Then, eight more died the week after that.

“The number keeps rising,” the Palestinian-American said Wednesday afternoon at a rally outside the Downtown Pittsburgh offices of Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators on Grant Street.

Alshurafa was one of about 100 people who called on federal officials to support a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza, stop financing Israel’s military and push for more humanitarian aid for the civilians caught in the crossfire.

“There’s so many people going through this right now, the pain and the agony,” said Alshurafa, who was featured in a recent TribLive story about Pittsburghers with Palestinian roots.

He implored American leaders to be “a voice for change” and to advocate for innocents who are hurt because of the violence between Israel and Hamas.

“We do not stand for our taxpayer dollars going toward Israel’s crimes,” he said.

Nick Marco, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which put together Wednesday’s event, said such rallies help bring attention to the issue. People who see the group protesting outside the senators’ offices might be inspired to learn more about the issue or get involved, he said, adding that his group has put on educational forums about the issues.

“There is a history people need to learn,” Marco said.

The group chanted support for an immediate ceasefire, and some held signs with messages of support for Palestine.

“There’s people — children and women — dying unjustly,” said Link Pietrusza, a Pittsburgh resident who participated in the rally. “Someone’s got to stand up and say something. We can’t sit idly by and fund a genocide.”

Pietrusza said he was willing to bear the cold and snow to voice support because he sympathizes with those suffering as a result of the war.

“I feel like if it was me or someone I loved, and no one was standing up and saying anything, it would make me so full of anger and full of rage,” he said.

Mia Perez of Pittsburgh said she was there because it was important that people don’t forget “we still care.”

She said she felt like it had been a while since the last Pittsburgh area rally to support the Palestinian cause.

“It’s still a problem,” she said.