Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Several groups including the local chapter of Run4TheirLIves joined in organizing the rally, the purpose of which was to keep attention focused on the plight of the Israeli hostages who were one day just living their lives like all of us and the next were thrust into a horrible captivity which has subjected them suffering which we have difficulty even discussing.

Above left, principal organizers (l. to r.) Jennifer Wolff, Melinda Boxbaum and Dori Bomback old one of the posters which were attached once again on the bridge railing. Melinda and Jennifer lead a group which has marched each Sunday morning since the Israelis were kidnapped, from the Westport Playhouse to stand on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial bridge, and has vowed to to so until the hostages are returned home.

Bomback is an Instagram and local Jewish advocate (@strength4israel) was part of a global initiative to Mark 300 days using the artwork in that photo and helped to gather this group of people as a vehicle to stand in solidarity with the families of the hostages. Having many contacts with those families in Israel one of the goals of the group is showing the families that they are not alone, and half a world away people are standing by them, and attempting to encourage the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to rescue their families loved ones. Bomback told WestportLocalPress, “Wherever you are in the world, raise your voice on their behalf and be their voice on August 1, 2024. We cannot let them reach the one year mark! The time is now to demand their release and to continue reminding the world about their captivity.  We cannot stop talking about the hostages! “

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

There was a very visible presence by Westport Police including Chief Foti Koskinas, striped shirt, standing with Officer Gunter and several other officers and command staff who were on duty to insure there were no problems with any potential counter protesters. Many passersby honked their horns and waved and cheered in support of the the group’s message.

The rally attendees spent nearly an hour on the bridge and replaced posters, numbering more than 100, of the kidnap victims which were removed by a local woman a few weeks ago (WestportLocalPress, Another Example Of Anti-Semitism) The posters which had been placed at that time were laminated and fastend with zip ties. The Westport PD responded to that activity and recovered the posters the woman had taken down which were returned to the group. They are hoping there will not be a repeat of that episode but acknowledge there are simply no guarantees.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above and below are just a few of the posters showing the innocent victims of the most brutal and devastating attack against the State of Israel since the Holocaust.

Near the end of the event, volunteers were given posters and zip ties to replace those taken earlier. The exact reason the woman who was found taking down the posters a few weeks ago is not clear and is open to speculation.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Above, right, State Representative from Westport’s 136 district since 2011, Jonathan Steinberg joined the protestors, as did Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore (not pictured)