FORT WORTH, Texas — Hundreds of people marched down Main Street in downtown Fort Worth Sunday in support of Israel, holding posters of hostages taken by Hamas.
As they marched, many said they were heartbroken to hear Americans call the murder, rape and torture of innocent Jewish people “justified.”
"It’s nonsense, it’s garbage, it’s terrible," Ken Price told WFAA. "To see people, especially college students, who should know better to support murderers and terrorists who do God-awful things."
Price's wife, Gloria Price, is the daughter of holocaust survivors.
"I’m glad they’re not alive to see it," she said. "Because I don’t think they ever thought they’d see that in this country. I never expected the preponderance of vocal antisemitism being expressed now without shame."
The pro-Israel march was followed by a pro-Israel rally, which escalated when counter-protesters interrupted.
It was a quick, but tense, altercation that heated up after one of the counter-protestors snatched a poster of a hostage out of someone's hand.
"When they’re calling for the death of Jews, well that’s us," Charles Pulman said. "If you want to know what Hamas wants to do, read their covenant. And they showed it on Oct. 7. In all of its barbarity, and they publicized it and filmed it. Who does that to another human being?"
"We don’t know what kind of world it’s gonna be if this should take on and become worse," his wife, Janine Pulman, added.
The rally featured prayers for the hostages taken by Hamas and killed.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed since the attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7. Since that time, Gaza's Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll has reached 9,700.
While there were a number of Jews in attendance, several non-Jews showed up and prayed in support of Israel as well.
Several Fort Worth police officers as well as private security were present for the rally.
In Dallas, more than 1,000 people marched in support of Palestine, calling for a ceasefire to the fighting in the region.