Approximately 20 Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Boston members picketed outside the Capital One Cafe on Boylston Street Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. to around 3 p.m. to protest the company’s alleged $90 million loan to Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense contractor.

“Capital One needs to drop this loan, or else we will come back over and over again,” said protestor David Berkinsky.

The BDS movement in Boston has been picketing since last summer as part of the group’s Eject Elbit campaign, which aims to “raise awareness” about and end Capital One’s loans to Elbit Systems, Berkinsky said.

“There should be no American company that’s invested in Elbit Systems,” Berkinsky said. “It’s a weapons manufacturer that contributes to death and destruction around the world.”

Ann Antonellis, a member of BDS Boston since 2024, said she believes that “direct action” helps inform the public about the banks’ ties to Elbit Systems and pushes customers not to purchase from the cafe or open and continue accounts at the bank.

“The problem with everything is the military industrial complex, and who’s funding it?” Antonellis said. “This bank is part of [it]. It’s not the only one, but it’s one of them.”

Although she “never imagined” herself as an activist, Antonellis said “this genocide just has grabbed me.”

“And I am not thinking about anything else,” Antonellis added.

At the protest, organizers passed out fliers with info on the boycott campaign and a QR code with more information about the protest.

Police officers stood at the cafe doors, guarding people entering and leaving the establishment, as well as the protestors.

Members held signs reading “Stop the War Machine,” “What’s really in your Wallet” and “This Bank supports Bombing in Gaza.”

The protestors chanted, “Elibit Systems, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?” “Capital One, what do you do? You lend money to kill kids, too” and “Capital One, your hands are red.”

Maria Westman, who said she was walking by the cafe and spotted the demonstrations, said it was “effective” and serves as a reminder that people are suffering “unimaginable” pain.

“It’s the conscience of the United States to realize that there is a genocide,” Westman said. “You can’t ignore it.”