The protests have focused on a variety of issues related to the conflict and have been held on varying scales since the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Groups came from New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Boston, Kansas City,[16] Philadelphia, Birmingham, Alabama and other domestic and international locations.

[4] Attendees who flew in from Detroit, including Michigan state senator Jeremy Moss, were unable to attend when bus drivers scheduled to take them from Dulles International Airport staged a walk-off.

[17][18] Speakers at the rally included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson,[4] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,[19] senator Joni Ernst, Montana Tucker,[20] televangelist John Hagee,[21] Israeli president Isaac Herzog (via video from Jerusalem), and U.S. envoy on antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt.

[22] Other notable speakers included Natan Sharansky[23] actress Debra Messing,[24] actor and comedian Michael Rapaport,[25] and family members of hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

[26] Organizers told The New York Times that the diverse speaker roster was intended to reach "across divisions" and be bipartisan, reflecting broad support by the United States Congress.

[33] Congresswoman Summer Lee wrote: "I'm deeply concerned that members of both parties shared a stage yesterday with noted antisemitic bigot John Hagee.