In Washington, D.C., outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken was interrupted by antiwar and pro-Palestinian protesters Tuesday as he delivered a keynote address at the Atlantic Council. It was Blinken’s final speech as the United States’ top diplomat. Protesters repeatedly interrupted the event, with one addressing the secretary of state as “Bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “We made clear there was a path to mutual return to compliance if Tehran was willing to take the steps necessary. At the same time, we strengthened America’s robust sanctions regime” —
Protester: “Secretary Blinken” —
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: — “on Iran” —
Protester: — “your legacy will be genocide!”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: — “and delivered on President Biden’s commitment” —
Protester: “You will forever be known as Bloody Blinken, secretary of genocide! You have the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people on your hands! We have spent a year” —
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “Thank you. I respect your views. Please allow me to share mine.”
Protester: “We have spent a year trying to” —
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “Thank you.”
Protester: — “appeal to your humanity, in front of your house! We brang you letters! We’ve held car rallies! The blood of innocent civilians, of children, is on your hands! We will not forgive!”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today is holding confirmation hearings on President-elect Trump’s pick to succeed Blinken, Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio. He’s a staunch supporter of Israel’s war on Gaza and has called for the “complete eradication of Hamas.” Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants who has fought to maintain the catastrophic U.S. embargo on Cuba.