22 | MAY 9 • 2024
J
N
A
highly visible “Free the Hostages” demonstration
was held on April 25 on a I-696 pedestrian overpass
in Farmington Hills as hundreds of cars and trucks
passed underneath. The demonstration marked over 200 days
of brutal captivity for more than 100 Israeli, Israeli-Americans
and other hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Organized by Don Cohen and Allan Gale, both
of West Bloomfield, the demonstration was timed
for display during rush-hour traffic. More than
20 supporters showed up with banners and Israeli
flags and were heartened to hear plenty of horns
honking from cars and trucks passing below.
“We opted for a peaceful ‘visibility event’
where a small group could be seen by thousands,”
Cohen said. “Given that it’s been more than
200 days since the Hamas attack, focusing on
freedom for the hostages and waving American and Israeli
flags seemed the right message and, overall, it was very well
received.”
It was a meaningful event. As Cohen said, “There is no need
to wait for others to take action when each of us can do it
ourselves and with our friends.”
“Free the hostages” demonstrators
gin up support on I-696 overpass.
Small But Mighty
Pro-Israel Rally
OUR COMMUNITY
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
The main
banner that
hung on the
overpass
Don Cohen and Larry
Gunsberg, left to right.
Alan Baum at far left.
Marcie Rosen, president of
Detroit Hadassah (left), and
Shelly Marks with Israeli flags.
Alan Gale is at the far left.