Sunday's massive Palestinian protest organized by Socialists

Thousands demonstrated outside the Texas Capitol and downtown Austin Sunday afternoon in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and opposing U.S. and Texas foreign aid to Israel.

That last part sounds like more of a Libertarian goal, but the protest did not appear at all like something from the Ron Paul camp. Nor did it look like other anti-Israel rallies held in the past in Central Texas, aside from the usual black-and-white fishnet keffiyeh head scarves and red and green Palestinian separatist flags. 

Smoke bombs, bused-in protesters, and misuse of the term "genocide" were the handiwork that all pointed to collaboration with the opposite side of the political spectrum.

If you guessed Antifa you were correct. Also spotted were Democratic Socialists of America protesters. Despite the fact that a Palestinian state would all but ban the "justice" and sexual expression the radical Left champions, the Palestinian cause fits the bill of the "anti-colonial" push popular with the liberals of late. However, a large number of Democratic public officials strongly support Israeli statehood and its territorial claims as an ally of the U.S.

See below for some proof of the "intersectionality" at work Sunday. The Texas Tribune reported the protest was organized by a coalition of groups, including Palestinian Youth Movement and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. There was also the usual built-in support from students at the nearby University of Texas.

Some participants were heard yelling, “Abbott, Abbott, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”

Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas militants who control the region launched an attack that has been described as "Israel's 9/11," killing 1,200 Israelis and took over 200 hostages. Israel's counterattacks have killed roughly 10,000 in their push to eliminate Hamas and perhaps re-take full control over Gaza. 

As is par for the course in a civil war, Gaza residents face shortages of food, water and medical supplies, sparking cries for a ceasefire. But both the Biden administration and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have stated their support for Israel.

In October, the governor’s office allocated more than $4 million to 31 Jewish organizations in Texas for physical security enhancements and other safety improvements, according to the Texas Tribune. Abbott issued an executive order directing state agencies to not purchase goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip, countering "divestment" efforts by the Left against companies which support Israel.

The Texas Comptroller’s office purchased $65 million in Israel bonds in recent weeks to help provide financial liquidity for Israel to respond to Hamas’s attacks. Since 1994, Texas has invested in Israeli bonds. The state currently holds about $140 million in Israel bonds, according to the comptroller’s office via Texas Tribune. 

Sunday was a day of contrast. In addition to the usual Christian worship meetings among the 800 churches in the Austin area, supporters of Austin's police stopped to pray and remember that evening. Three Austin police officers died over the weekend -- one shot during a SWAT operation, one allegedly by suicide, and another in a traffic accident. Supporters gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Austin City Hall approximately eight blocks away from the protests.

Earlier that morning, Austinites calling for missing or stranded Americans to be brought home hosted a cross-country run in a downtown park.