Protesters chanting "ceasefire now" gathered at the Ogilvie Transportation Center on Monday morning, blocking the escalators leading to the Israeli consulate located above the transit hub. The demonstration, organized by Chicago chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, and Never Again Action, was said to be the largest Midwest gathering of Jews standing in solidarity with Palestinians.

Despite the escalator blockade, the morning commute was largely unaffected as commuters were still able to enter and exit the platforms through the Canal and Clinton street exits, according to a spokesperson from Metra. Entrances to the building at 500 W. Madison St. were temporarily closed due to the protest.

Carrying signs with messages such as "Not in our name" and wearing T-shirts supporting the cause, the protesters later moved outside the Accenture Tower around 10:30 a.m. Their presence attracted attention and support from passersby who joined in the chants for a ceasefire.

The motivation behind the protest centered on the U.S. House of Representatives' recent passing of a $14 billion aid package for Israel. Kansas City resident Michael Wolfe expressed the protesters' opposition to the bill passing in the Senate, stating that "our tax dollars are going towards" what he referred to as a "genocide." The activists urged fellow Americans to contact their representatives and the Biden administration consistently until a ceasefire is achieved.

During the demonstration, several protesters risked arrest by sitting in and blocking the entrance to the Israeli Consulate in Chicago. Their commitment to the cause was met with cheers of support from the crowd. The exact number of demonstrators involved in the protest was not provided.

Notably, Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters, who converted to Judaism last year, also joined the protest. Peters expressed his "profound concern and anger" as he witnessed the Israeli response to the Hamas attack on October 7. He emphasized the need for nonviolent solutions, citing Chicago's anti-violence efforts as examples that could be applied to the pursuit of peace.

The demonstration resonated with Ariel Levin, who drove from Iowa City to participate. Levin expressed being energized by the experience and intended to take the messages and energy gathered in Chicago back to Iowa to continue organizing with fellow Jews and allies.

Protesters gathered in the lobby of the Ogilvie Transportation Center at 500 W. Madison St., bringing attention to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and voicing their demands for an immediate ceasefire.