How a D.C. Protest Invoked a Centuries-Old Antisemitic Myth 

A controversial pro-Palestinian guerrilla art protest at Washington D.C.’s Union Station, dubbed “Israel’s Friendsgiving,” sparked widespread condemnation for invoking the ancient antisemitic blood libel trope by depicting U.S. and Israeli leaders—including Netanyahu, Trump, and Biden—covered in fake blood and seated at a table with menu items described as “Gaza children’s limbs” and “Gaza’s spilled blood.” Jewish groups, including the American Jewish Committee, denounced the display as a “sickening display of full-throated antisemitism,” emphasizing that the blood libel—a false medieval accusation that Jews use the blood of non-Jewish children in rituals—has been used for centuries to justify violence and pogroms against Jews, making its modern revival in a political protest both dangerous and historically illiterate, regardless of the activists’ intended criticism of Israeli policy.

How a D.C. Protest Invoked a Centuries-Old Antisemitic Myth 

The convergence of political protest, historical antisemitic tropes, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict recently manifested in a controversial guerrilla art demonstration at Washington D.C.’s Union Station. This analysis examines the event’s components, the historical significance of the blood libel accusation, and why this protest sparked particular outrage. 

The Union Station Demonstration 

On Thursday, November 23, 2025, a group of pro-Palestinian activists staged a graphic protest inside Washington D.C.’s main train station, situated opposite the U.S. Capitol. 

The installation featured five individuals in suits wearing masks representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken. These figures were covered in fake blood and seated at a long table set with disturbing props: bloodied doll limbs, glasses of red liquid, and plates resembling organ meat. Israeli flags were used as napkins for the participants to mop blood from their faces. 

A prominently displayed menu in ornate font detailed the grotesque meal: 

• Starter: Gaza children’s limbs 

• Main: Stolen Organs 

• Dessert: Illegally harvested skin 

• Drink: Gaza’s spilled blood 

The protest was organized by prominent local pro-Palestinian activists Hazami Barada and Atefeh Rokhvand, who had previously organized an early Washington encampment. The Instagram account “Dear White Staffers” was also credited for promoting the event. 

The Historical Context of Blood Libel 

The protest drew immediate condemnation for invoking what is historically known as “blood libel” – one of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes in history. 

What is Blood Libel? 

Blood libel is an antisemitic false accusation that Jews murder non-Jews, particularly Christian children, to use their blood in religious rituals. In its classic form, this libel claimed that Jews used the blood of Christian children to make matzah, the unleavened bread eaten during Passover. This accusation has been used for centuries to justify violence, persecution, and massacres of Jewish communities. 

Historical Origins and Spread 

The blood libel first emerged in medieval England in 1144, when Jews of Norwich were falsely accused of ritual murder after a boy named William was found dead. According to the chronicler Thomas of Monmouth, Jews allegedly held an international council each year to select a country where a child would be killed during Easter. 

This accusation pattern spread throughout Europe: 

• 1168: Similar accusations in Gloucester 

• 1181: Bury St. Edmunds 

• 1255: Hugh of Lincoln case, which gained royal credibility under King Henry III 

The libel appeared in France in 1171 and eventually spread to other parts of Europe, often resulting in the execution of entire Jewish communities and sometimes leading to the veneration of the alleged victims as Christian martyrs. 

Blood Libel in America 

While less common in the United States, a significant blood libel case occurred in 1928 in Massena, New York. When a four-year-old girl named Barbara Griffiths went missing, rumors spread that Jews had kidnapped and killed her for ritual purposes. The accusation gained traction among townspeople, police officers, and even the mayor before the girl was found alive after having simply become lost in the woods. 

According to NYU historian Edward Berenson, this case emerged amidst significant immigration-driven demographic changes and political tensions, including Henry Ford’s distribution of violently antisemitic literature through his newspaper, The Dearborn Independent. 

Contemporary Reactions and Implications 

Jewish Community Response 

Jewish organizations swiftly condemned the Union Station demonstration: 

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington called it a “sickening display of full-throated antisemitism”. 

The American Jewish Committee stated: “Dressed up as ‘activism’ and ‘performance art,’ this was nothing less than the revival of one of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes in history. Blood libel has fueled violence, persecution, and massacres of Jews for centuries. Seeing it resurface in our nation’s capital is both horrifying and unacceptable”. 

The “Friendsgiving” Framing 

The protesters employed the term “Israel’s Friendsgiving” to frame their demonstration, ironically appropriating a term that normally describes a warm gathering of friends around Thanksgiving. Typically, Friendsgiving represents an informal celebration where friends share a meal, often potluck-style, separate from traditional family Thanksgiving gatherings. The deliberate inversion of this concept added a layer of irony to the protest’s messaging. 

Activist Intentions Versus Historical Resonance 

While the activists likely intended to criticize Israeli and U.S. policies regarding Gaza, their chosen imagery directly invoked centuries-old antisemitic tropes that have repeatedly led to violence against Jewish communities. This demonstrates how political criticism can cross into antisemitism when it employs historically charged imagery associated with Jewish persecution. 

The protest occurred amid heightened global tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has sparked demonstrations worldwide with varying government responses. In Germany, for instance, authorities have banned certain pro-Palestinian chants, while Spain has seen more government support for protests. 

The Enduring Power of Dangerous Imagery 

The Union Station protest highlights how ancient antisemitic tropes continue to find expression in contemporary political discourse. While the language of “resistance” and “genocide” reflects current political framings, the core imagery of Jewish figures consuming blood remains eerily consistent with medieval accusations. 

This incident raises important questions about the boundaries of political protest and the historical literacy needed among activists to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Understanding the weight of historical symbols is crucial when crafting political messaging, as imagery rooted in persecution can undermine intended messages and cause significant harm to vulnerable communities. 

The demonstration’s invocation of blood libel mythology—regardless of its contemporary political framing—connects to a long history of false accusations that have endangered Jewish communities for nearly a millennium. As the American Jewish Committee noted, “At a time of rising antisemitism, leaders and authorities must condemn this display and ensure that public spaces are not used to spread dangerous hate”.