CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of Jewish peace activists and their allies converged at a major train station in downtown Chicago during rush hour Monday morning, blocking the entrance to the Israeli consulate and demanding U.S. support for an Israel cease-fire as battles rage in northern Gaza. Midwestern Jews and allies traveled to Chicago from Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois for the demonstration, organizers said. The Israeli consulate in Chicago is in a building connected to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, a major commuter rail station. The Chicago rally is unique from the previous Jewish Voice demonstrations because in the Midwest, “progressive Jewish communities are far smaller and separated by distance,” according to an emailed press release from organizers. “Trains continued to run throughout.”The Israeli consulate in Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Persons: Ben Lorber, “, ”, Clara Belitz, IfNotNow, Meg Reile, ___ Savage Organizations: CHICAGO, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Chicago, Jewish Voice, Peace, Chicago police, Jewish, Grand, Station, New York, Washington , D.C, Hamas, Metra, West Madison, “, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Chicago, Israel, Gaza, Iowa , Missouri, Minnesota , Michigan , Indiana , Wisconsin, Illinois, Israeli, New York, Washington ,