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Pennsylvania peace protesters tell Biden: Ceasefire now

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Pennsylvania peace protesters tell Biden: Ceasefire now


Protesters in Pennsylvania sound the call: Ceasefire now. | Ben Sears / People’s World

PHILADELPHIA—Demonstrators had a message for President Joe Biden when he arrived in Philly on Dec. 11: Push for a ceasefire in Gaza now. The protest, several hundred strong, targeted the hotel where Biden was meeting with big Democratic donors to collect campaign cash and giving what was billed as a preview of his 2024 re-election strategy.

The local press covered both Biden’s visit and the protest. As several reports pointed out, the day showcased both the president’s campaign preparations as well as the challenges his struggle for a second term could face. Anger over his support for right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the brutal war launched against Gaza after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 has several polling firms predicting trouble for Biden.

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His visit was preceded a day earlier by another big march, this time in Harrisburg, the state capital. There, demonstrators braved the threat of rain and high winds to demand freedom for Palestine, with a ceasefire in Gaza as the immediate first step.

They came from all corners of Pennsylvania—by car, by bus, and by train. They filled the steps of the capitol building and then poured into the streets of Harrisburg. They included Palestinian activists, along with many supporters and allies and adherents of a diversity of religious faiths.

A woman rabbi from Philadelphia told the crowd, “My background as a descendant of Holocaust survivors compelled me to be present.”

The rally was sponsored by a wide coalition of groups, including the Philly Palestine Coalition, Penn State Students for Justice in Palestine, Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace, and others. Speakers called for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel, and a two-state solution as part of a long-term peaceful solution.

As the marchers took to the streets, chants of “Ceasefire Now!” and “Free, free Palestine!” echoed off the walls of nearby buildings. Demonstrators proceeded to the governor’s mansion to deliver their message to Gov. Josh Shapiro, although he was away.

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Back in Philadelphia, after his fundraiser with donors, Biden also paid a visit to a local fire station where he met with members of the Firefighters union and announced a federal grant to upgrade the city’s firefighting capability and hire additional firefighters.

In 2022, the neighborhood Biden visited had suffered a disastrous and deadly housefire which some felt wouldn’t have been as bad if the city had avoided recent cutbacks. Following that fire, the president of Firefighters Local 22 called Biden directly to urge more federal assistance.

We hope you appreciated this article. At People’s World, we believe news and information should be free and accessible to all, but we need your help. Our journalism is free of corporate influence and paywalls because we are totally reader-supported. Only you, our readers and supporters, make this possible. If you enjoy reading People’s World and the stories we bring you, please support our work by donating or becoming a monthly sustainer today. Thank you!


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Ben Sears






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Pennsylvania

Fetterman and McCormick cancel joint appearance in Pittsburgh

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Fetterman and McCormick cancel joint appearance in Pittsburgh


A joint appearance featuring U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick scheduled for Saturday in Pittsburgh — which already had been subject to a location change after activists said they would show up to protest the paid event — was canceled on Friday.

People who paid $32, plus fees, for the event received an update that it was postponed “due to an unforeseen logistical issue,” and that it will be rescheduled.

The update from “Team McCormick” and “Team Fetterman” said the organizers “regret any inconvenience” and offered full refunds.

The event’s location had not been revealed.

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Attendees were supposed to get a notification 24 hours ahead of time of the location, Pennlive.com reported, but got the postponement instead.

Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, were originally set to appear with McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell, at City Winery in Pittsburgh on Saturday to promote a book about mentorship authored by the McCormicks called “Who Believed in You?” People who paid to attend would get a copy of the book.

But then the location was switched to a new, undisclosed venue.

“Our senators appear to have caught wind of the fact that their constituents want to be heard. And instead of HOLDING TOWN HALLS, they have moved their paid book event (the subject of this protest) to an UNDISCLOSED LOCATION,” said organizers of a protest page on Facebook called “Search Party; Have You Seen our Senators?”

The organizers said they would still proceed with a scheduled 12 p.m. Saturday demonstration at Schenley Plaza in Pittsburgh.

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The Democratic Fetterman and Republican McCormick have touted their friendly working relationship.

It’s been more than two months since Fetterman held a public event in Pennsylvania. McCormick on Tuesday held his first town hall, which was online only, since becoming Pennsylvania’s senator. The tele-town hall was advertised 30 minutes before it started via a post on McCormick’s X account.

Fetterman, the only Senate Democrat to visit President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort this year, has steadfastly dismissed angry complaints from many of his Democratic constituents about his vote to approve a Republican bill funding the federal government and averting a shutdown, as well as his staunch support of Israel.

“He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful,” Trump said after meeting Fetterman.

Fetterman has been critical of the Trump administration, including on Friday when he denounced a move by Trump to strip unionization rights from federal workers.

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Representatives for Fetterman and McCormick could not be reached for comment Friday.

Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article.



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Pennsylvania Sportswatch Daily Listings

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Pennsylvania Sportswatch Daily Listings


Lafayette at Lehigh — ESPN+, ESPN app

Bucknell at Army — ESPN+, ESPN app

Pittsburgh at Boston College — ACCNX

Penn State at Michigan — Big Ten Plus

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Saint Joseph’s at VCU — ESPN+, ESPN app

Lafayette at Lehigh — ESPN+, ESPN app

Bucknell at Army — ESPN+, ESPN app

Pittsburgh at Boston College — ACCNX

Philadelphia at Washington — MASN, NBCS Philadelphia +, Fubo Sports US

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Pittsburgh at Miami — FDSN Florida, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Fubo Sports US

Miami at Philadelphia — FDSN Sun, NBCS Philadelphia, Fubo Sports US, NBA League Pass

MLS: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami — MLS Season Pass

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.



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Pennsylvania Money Match Program Sends First Checks to Residents

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Pennsylvania Money Match Program Sends First Checks to Residents


Treasurer Stacy Garrity, alongside Senator Devlin Robinson (R-37), announced the inaugural disbursement of funds from the Pennsylvania Money Match program, with over $1.7 million in checks being mailed to state residents. This initiative, which received unanimous approval from the General Assembly and was signed into law by the Governor, aims to efficiently return unclaimed property to its rightful owners.

More than 7,000 Pennsylvanians will soon find checks in their mailboxes, representing the first wave of payments under the program. These funds stem from unclaimed property such as dormant accounts and uncashed checks, with individual claims capped at $500.

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The program’s introduction follows a series of “due diligence” notifications sent by the Treasury to potential beneficiaries in January. Following this first batch, the next series of checks is scheduled for May, targeting approximately 40,000 recipients.

Pennsylvania Money Match was established under Senate Bill 24, also known as Act 81 of 2024, sponsored by former Sen. John DiSanto and complemented by House Bill 2092 from Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-3). Both pieces of legislation passed with bipartisan support, reflecting a collective effort to streamline the return of unclaimed assets to citizens, thereby boosting local economies and easing individual financial burdens.


Treasurer Garrity highlighted the program’s success in removing bureaucratic hurdles and improving the efficiency of government operations. Since her tenure began, Garrity has returned over $750 million in unclaimed property and has overseen significant enhancements to the treasury’s systems, including a major system upgrade and the introduction of a fast-track claim process.

For more details on the Pennsylvania Money Match program or to check eligibility for unclaimed property, residents are encouraged to visit the Treasury’s official site at patreasury.gov/MoneyMatch.

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