It was the largest Palestine liberation protests in central Illinois history Sunday, May 23rd, 2021. That’s how activist, journalist, and leader of the group Boycott, Divest, Sanction on Caterpillar (BDS on Cat) Lawrence Maushard described it. In the wake of increased violence in Palestine–largely caused by the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the apartheid Israeli government–nearly 300 people protested on the Corner of Main & University in Peoria, IL.
Protesters marched on Main Street in Peoria from University to Sheridan occupying and shutting down all traffic on Main Street for over an hour. There were children leading the crowd in chants. There were elderly protesters marching side-by-side with people in wheelchairs. The march was led by Palestinian women.
