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By: Mario Mancini
In New York City, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, organized by the Democratic Socialists of America, gathered on Sunday. During the rally, some individuals stomped on and De the Israeli flag.
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Islamic terrorists continued their attack on Israel
This inappropriate display was roundly condemned by most New Yorkers, including many on the far left.
Counter-protesters, showing support for Israel, also attended the Manhattan rally. Verbal confrontations between the two opposing groups escalated throughout the day, and at one point, a skirmish occurred near the United Nations compound in Midtown.
During the pro-Palestinian demonstration, a participant was seen displaying an image of a swastika on their phone, which happened shortly after Hamas had reportedly killed 700 Jews.
The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the political party associated with figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, announced the rally in Times Square on Saturday, shortly after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, which resulted in hundreds of casualties.
Governor Kathy Hochul immediately condemned the planned demonstration as “abhorrent and morally repugnant.”
Approximately a couple hundred demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine!” and held signs with messages such as “End all US aid to Israel” and “Palestine will be free.” Some of them emphasized their concerns about civilian suffering and the desire to stop violence on both sides.
A separate group of rally attendees marched to the Consulate General of Israel on Second Avenue, with their numbers growing to about 100 by late afternoon. Around 200 counterdemonstrators opposed them, and confrontations occurred behind police barricades.
Tensions escalated when protesters grabbed an Israeli flag, damaged it, and set it on fire. When a counter-protester attempted to retrieve the flag, there were confrontations, and police struggled to maintain control.
Three individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct during the event.
For many Israelis in New York, the rally was deeply upsetting, as they mourned the loss of friends in the recent attack in Israel.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly condemned the rally and expressed unwavering support for the United States’ relationship with Israel.
Following the Hamas attack, the NYPD increased security at synagogues, the Israeli Consulate, and other Jewish sites in New York City. The controversial rally by the progressive group drew widespread criticism, and many denounced it for supporting terrorism in a time of conflict and suffering.
Within the Democratic Socialists in Congress, some members attempted to strike a balance between condemning Hamas’ violence and maintaining their stance against what they view as “Israeli aggression.” For instance leftist radical , Bowman condemned the violence but did not explicitly call for a ceasefire, emphasizing the need to address the long-standing issues in the region.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the NYPD would be monitoring the rallies to ensure they remained peaceful, acknowledging people’s right to protest even if he disagreed with celebrating such incidents.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) slammed her fellow socialists for promoting a pro-Palestine rally in the city Monday, days after hundreds of Israelis were murdered in an invasion by the terror group Hamas.
“It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity,” AOC told Playbook almost a full day after the rally took place. “The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment.”
