JACKSON, Wyo. — Protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have been meeting every Saturday on Jackson’s Town Square for the past month, with no plans to stop.
Protestors told Buckrail that the group intends to hoist its signs every Saturday until a ceasefire is announced. A consistent group of about 10 people has turned up week after week.
Joni Gore, who organizes these ongoing protests, spoke to Buckrail about the group’s activities.
“Naturally, with a lot of the demonstrations, there’s a concern of it being seen as antisemitic,” Gore said. “As a vocal anti-Zionist Jew, I felt it was appropriate for me to organize the protest, because Judaism and Zionism are different but there’s this public perception that anything that’s pro-Palestine is antisemitic. So I felt compelled to be the leader of this event.”
Gore recently displayed a sign on the pedestrian bridge over the Snake River, reading “Ceasefire now!”
“Last week on Global Protest Day, my friends and I made a 35-foot banner and held it over traffic during rush hour,” Gore said. “We’re trying to find other creative ways to reach people.”
Jackson has also seen pro-Israel demonstrations since the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict began on Oct. 7. The Chabad Jewish Center of Wyoming mailed out 13,000 menorahs during Hanukkah, asking recipients to post photos of the lit candles with the hashtags #WYStandsWithJews and #WYStandsWithIsrael.
Gore said the distinction between support for Jewish people and support for the state of Israel has been a major discussion point between the protestors and the passersby who engage with them.
“We’ve had some really nasty remarks from people who come up to the protests,” Gore said. “We’re there to provide resources for people if they want to learn more. We definitely ask that people be respectful. We’re not punching bags. We’re not going to be able to have a conversation if people are yelling obscenities at us. I would invite conversation. I am part of the Jewish community.”
