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WE WILL STAND FOR FREEDOM." These were the words of the House Democratic leader at the largest pro-Israel demonstration Washington has seen in many years. Over 100,000 people took part in the rally including Government representatives, heads of Jewish organizations, and students from 100 campuses.
 Hillel students at the massive solidarity demonstration for Israel in Washington (photo: David Carp) According to organizers, over 100,000 people, Jews and non-Jews alike, attended the "We stand with Israel Now and Forever" rally, held on April 15 in front of the Capitol. The rally was organized by Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish organizations, the Jewish Agency, and the United Jewish Communities of North America, and supported by the American Zionist Movement. Speakers included major American political figures, intellectuals, ethnic leaders and heads of Jewish organizations, and representatives of the Government of Israel. Prominent among the speakers were Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, House Democratic leader Richard Gephard, Former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Construction Natan Sharansky, and Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior. The speakers and banners stressed Israel's right to defend herself against terror as well as the solidarity of the American people with Israel. The speakers condemned "homicide" bombings and called on Arafat to take action against terrorism. Deputy Foreign Minister Melchior stated, "This is a war for our homes and our families, for the basic right to live without fear in our land. But it is also more than that: it is a war for civilization." House Democratic leader Richard Gephard said, "We will stand with Israel. We will stand for freedom." National Urban League leader Hugh Price representing Afro-Americans noted, "We stand solidly behind Israel and the American Jewish community." Speaking on behalf of the Hillel campus organization, Columbia University student Mira Kogan said, "As college students we all realize that the most freshly dug graves belong to people our own age in Israel; for when we college students see the faces of those soldiers who are protecting the land of Israel, the people of Israel and Jews worldwide - we see our own faces."
Comparisons were made between September 11 and the terrorism Israel has endured throughout its history. While there were calls for an end to violence and a return to the negotiating table, it was noted that peace cannot come while murderers are glorified, while the media, textbooks, and religious leaders espouse violence and hate and political leaders incite and justify terrorism. Signs carried by demonstrators including the following:
"Israel's fight = America's fight" The demonstrators carried American and Israeli flags, and many draped themselves in the flags, wearing them like prayer shawls. Over 1,500 buses, including 70 transporting students from throughout the US, converged on Washington for the rally. In addition thousands of demonstrators arrived on their own, posing a challenge to traffic police and taxing the capacities of public transportation carriers into and within Washington. Buses traveled from as far away as south Florida, Atlanta, North Carolina, Memphis, Cleveland, St. Louis, Madison, and Indianapolis. Planes came from Detroit, Boston, Miami, Boca, Chicago and other large and small cities. The West Coast was represented by participants from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. University students mobilized by Hillel from 100 campuses represented every region of the country. Of particular note was a large group from the Christians' Israel Public Action Campaign. This was the largest rally held by the American Jewish community since the campaign to free Soviet Jews and it was symbolic that Deputy Prime Minister Sharansky, for whose release masses had rallied in Washington fifteen ago, represented the sovereign State of Israel, a free man.
Commenting on the rally, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive, Sallai Meridor stated that "the American Jewish Community is standing up in support of Israel and speaking out against terrorism." He also said that "answering the Jewish Agency's call, Jewish communities throughout the world have been holding Israel solidarity rallies, organizing special emergency fundraising campaigns, writing Letters to Israeli soldiers, and volunteering to come to Israel to work in the Magen David Adom, on kibbutzim, and in maintenance tasks." Meridor sent a message of greeting and support to the organizers of the rally. Prof. Art Naparstek, UJC Director of Israel and Overseas, who organized the rally on behalf of the UJC, said that in the US there is a broad-based coalition against terror that includes both Jews and Gentiles. Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice President of the Conference of Presidents said, "This is a critical time in Jewish history and in Israel's history. We have brought together the totality of the Jewish community to show solidarity." Behind the scenes all Jewish Agencies cooperated in perfect harmony and under pressure to put all the pieces together in six days. Michael Jankelowitz, Jewish Agency emissary to Hillel, reported that the rally received exceptional media coverage. The rally was broadcast live on C-SPAN and covered by all of the major television networks, as well as local television, radio, and print media.
The following is a list of speakers:
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