About 50 people gathered in Portland's Monument Square today to protest Israeli actions in Gaza. The protestors are calling on Congress and President Obama to rethink U.S. policy towards the conflict.
"We do not approve of the killing of children or civilians," said Bob Schaible, one of the organizers of the protest. "But Israel does it wholesale, they try to convince the world they don't, but look at the last couple of weeks."
A couple of counter-protestors showed up to offer a different perspective. Jeffrey Lombard says Israelis want peace, but Hamas only wants conflict.
"They don't want peace, and they have told that to the Palestinian civilian population," said Lombard.
The protest was organized by Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights, Code Pink and Peace Action Maine.
