MILWAUKEE — Tens of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. Tuesday for the March for Israel on the National Mall. The event aimed to show support for Israel, push for the freeing of Israeli hostages and take a stand against antisemitism.

More than 200 people from the Milwaukee area traveled together to the March for Israel. The group left Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport Tuesday morning.

Miryam Rosenzweig, president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, said the war in Israel is impacting many people on the trip. She said almost everyone on the trip knows someone who is in Israel. Now, she hopes members of Milwaukee’s Jewish community are able to send a message.

“Milwaukee has a long tradition of supporting Israel. Golda Meir, one of Israel’s Prime Ministers is from Milwaukee,” said Rosenzweig. “We get to join with 146 other communities coming together, 100,000 strong at least to show both our solidarity for Israel and to stand against antisemitism.”

One woman traveling with the group is from Israel, but has called Milwaukee home for the last year and a half. Heni, who asked Spectrum News 1 only to use her first name, has family in Israel. While she said her first instinct was to return home once the war began, she decided to stay in Wisconsin while showing her support for Israel.

“We have to stand up and take ourselves out of our homes and be very proud of being Jewish and being Israeli. I think this is exactly the reason that I didn’t leave and go back home and stayed and am proud of it,” said Heni.

Heni said because of rising antisemitism, she has avoided wearing clothing in recent months that may identify her as being Jewish.

However, as she prepared to board her flight to Washington, she wore a shirt featuring the Israeli flag.

“Today is the first time, I think in more than a month that I am wearing anything that has something to do with either Israel or me being Jewish and when I put this sweatshirt [on] today with the flag, I felt this is why I am going,” said Heni.