144 Shoes Left On Steps Of West Orange Town Hall: Israel-Palestine

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A grassroots social justice group says that they’re the ones behind an unusual political statement against the Israel-Hamas war that took place at West Orange Town Hall on Tuesday morning.

According to West Orange for Humanity, some of its members went to 66 Main Street around 6 a.m. and left 144 empty shoes on the steps of Town Hall (see photo above).

Activists explained their motivations on a large banner, which was left tied to columns at the top of the steps: “Complicit In Genocide / 144 Children Murdered In Gaza Every Day.”

“We heard that they were removed by 8:30 a.m., possibly earlier,” a spokesperson told Patch, adding that the group didn’t encounter any town workers or police at the scene.

Patch reached out to township officials seeking comment about this morning’s protest. We will update this article with any reply we receive.

West Orange for Humanity is the same group that helped to spearhead a “celebration of culture and resilience” at Town Hall in January. See Related: West Orange Cancels Palestine Flag Raising, Critics Cry Foul

The group said they are demanding the passage of a proposed town council resolution supporting a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine war – which was derailed when antisemitic racists “Zoom bombed” the council’s latest meeting.

• See Related: Bigots 'Zoom Bomb' West Orange Town Council Meeting With Hate Speech
• See Related: Cops Probe Racist Virtual Invasion Of West Orange Council Meeting

Like several other towns in New Jersey, West Orange has been seeing vitriolic debate over the Israel-Palestine war, which has claimed thousands of innocent lives and caused immense suffering on both sides.

Read some of our recent coverage in West Orange below (click headlines to read the article).

• Debate Over Antisemitism Rages At West Orange Council Meeting
• West Orange Mayor Cancels Palestine Flag Raising, Critics Cry Foul
• West Orange Students Hold Walkout Over Israel-Palestine War

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