COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have intensified their protests against a Jewish congressman as the anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaches, establishing a makeshift encampment outside the residence of Ohio Democratic Representative Greg Landsman in Cincinnati.
Landsman reported that the protesters appeared outside his home early on Sunday morning. By the evening, they had erected tents, cots, and sleeping bags on the street, resulting in harassment directed at him and his family. This prompted them to seek police assistance for safe passage to and from their home, according to the congressman.
“In the shadows of the one-year anniversary of the heinous October 7 terror attacks, in which Jews were viciously killed and taken hostage, these individuals chose to camp outside a Jewish family’s home at night, cloaked in black and fully masked,” Landsman stated. He mentioned that navigating this protest would become a necessity for him and his daughter as they headed to a memorial service later on Monday.
The group Midwest Direct Action 4 Pali! shared footage from the demonstration on social media. The video depicted masked activists marching past Landsman’s home while carrying white bundles resembling shrouded bodies, accompanied by banners indicating the death toll. According to Landsman’s office, the demonstrators remained present on Monday.
“In commemoration of the one-year anniversary marking the onset of genocide in Palestine, local activists in Cincinnati have gathered outside Congressman Greg Landsman’s residence to protest his votes aimed at concealing the death toll and continuing financial support for what they call mass murder in Gaza,” noted the group in their online post. “We solemnly mark our vigil, proclaiming we will persist until the genocide ceases and Palestine is liberated.”
Mike Madanat, a spokesperson for the protesters, commented that their duration of stay at Landsman’s residence remains uncertain and that they do not plan to leave in the immediate future. He explained that decisions on the matter are deliberated on a daily basis. The activists, consisting of various groups, are all “Cincinnati taxpayers,” and they feel compelled to act after perceiving the congressman’s silence towards their previous outreach efforts including postcards and attending town halls.
Madanat emphasized their awareness of being in a residential neighborhood and claimed they are taking steps to respect Landsman’s neighbors and the local community. This includes ongoing discussions with local law enforcement and residents to ensure their activities remain within legal bounds.
“This has never been about religion; it strictly pertains to the death toll and the congressman’s support for the resulting violence and displacement,” Madanat clarified.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence for Landsman and his district since the onset of the conflict. A month into the fighting, agitators displayed a poster near Landsman’s district office featuring his photo and denouncing him with the phrase “This Ken supports genocide,” alongside other provocative statements.
In July, Landsman visited the Covedale Cemetery Complex in Cincinnati after a disturbing incident where 176 Jewish gravestones were vandalized.
