18 Cuffed As Hundreds Protest Outside Rep. Goldman's BK Office

PARK SLOPE, NY — Hundreds of Brooklynites called on Rep. Dan Goldman to support a ceasefire in Gaza Wednesday, landing 18 with tickets for disorderly conduct, police said.

Standing outside his Park Slope office on 9th Street between 5th and 6th avenues, protesters organized by American Jewish movement IfNotNow also said his vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib was a denial of humanity.

"The people you are supposed to represent, Representative Goldman, need the bombs to stop," advocates said outside Goldman's office.

Police say the protest included about 250 demonstrators at its height, who can be seen sitting in the street in videos posted to social media.

IfNotNow member Rachel Liberty said the whole protest was "very peaceful." Many demonstrators moved to the sidewalk when police asked them to disperse, but some remained seated in the street — at which point 18 demonstrators were taken into custody about 8 p.m. and issued summonses, police said.

Demonstrators centered Jewish ceremony in their protest by praying, singing, and listening to a local rabbi, Liberty said.

Goldman said he was happy to listen to his constituents' concerns.

“As a staunch supporter of democracy, I eagerly listen to the voices of all of my constituents. I won’t agree with everyone on everything but I’m grateful for all who participate in our democracy," Goldman said in a statement to Patch.

Liberty said organizers are glad Goldman is open to listening, but "those words will only go so fast without action."

"None of us are safe until all of us are safe," Liberty said. "We need a ceasefire to end the violence."

On Tuesday, some 22 Democratic representatives voted to censure Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress.

Goldman was one of only two New York City reps to support the censure introduced by Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick, contending Tlaib had "promoted misinformation" and used harmful tropes in her support for Palestine, according to a statement from Goldman.

Other New York City representatives, including Jerrold Nadler, Hakeem Jeffries, Gregory Meeks, Yvette Clarke and Jamaal Bowman, voted against the censure. Rep. Richie Torres was the only other local representative to support the censure.

"This vote denies the humanity of Palestinians desperately trying to survive. It also promotes growing attempts to silence pro-Palestinian voices," said IfNotNow organizers.

Meanwhile, calls for a ceasefire remain strong across New York City, and protests continue almost daily.

Liberty said she and other organizers would like to see more listening and empathizing from electeds. The safety of Jewish folks cannot come at the expense of Palestinians, she said.

"Every day that bombing rages, thousands of Palestinians are murdered and the Israeli hostages are put in further danger," organizers said.

"[We] urge Rep. Dan Goldman to join calls to stop the violence and protect every child in Israel and Palestine."

This article was edited at 11:45 to include statements from IfNotNow and Rep. Dan Goldman.