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NY’s Met Gala Shadowed by Anti-Israel Protesters Using Stink Bombs & Flares
Edited by: TJVNews.com
As the world’s glitterati ascended the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala on Monday night, a starkly different scene unfolded on the streets of New York City. According to a report on Monday evening in the New York Times, just beyond the museum’s grandeur, in the shadows of Central Park and along Fifth Avenue, anti-Israel protesters gathered to voice their dissent against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza, creating a juxtaposition of celebration and demonstration that marked the evening.
🚨 #BREAKING: Palestine protestors are REMOVING barricades and rushing the Met Gala in NYC
Looks like the “star studded” Gala is going to have some problems tonight… pic.twitter.com/A7O1ktYYAp
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 6, 2024
In Central Park, a group of pro-Hamas protesters, monitored by an ACLU observer donned in a blue vest, held up cardboard signs with messages such as “No Met Gala While Bombs Drop in Gaza” and “No Celebration Without Liberation,” the NYT report indicated. These signs, primarily focused on the war in Gaza, signaled a reminder of the global issues transcending the night’s festivities. The group, however, remained reticent, declining to interact with the media or disclose anticipated numbers of participants.
Meanwhile, a larger, more vocal assembly marched along Fifth Avenue. This group, many waving Palestinian flags, filled the air with chants of “Gaza! Gaza!” accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of clapping and drums, as was reported by the NYT. The protests, centered on the defense of Rafah as Participants actively challenged physical and metaphorical barriers in a display of dissent that coincided with one of the city’s most high-profile events.
The demonstration grew in intensity as participants reached the vicinity of the Met, where they removed barricades that blocked access to Fifth Avenue and the museum itself.
NOW: Pro-Palestine protesters in NYC are marching toward the Met, which is currently hosting the Met Gala pic.twitter.com/HFKgq1VU2o
— katie smith (@probablyreadit) May 6, 2024
The response from the New York Police Department was swift and marked by a heavy presence. Officers erected barricades at key intersections to create a buffer between the protesters and the gala attendees. However, tensions escalated around 6:30 p.m. when, amid the peak of the gala’s arrivals, police began arresting demonstrators on Madison Avenue, just a block from the event, as per the information provided in the NYT report.
Adding another layer to the evening’s complex social tableau was Mark J. Levy, a 19-year-old student from Yeshiva University. Positioned on the sidewalk, Levy draped himself in an Israeli flag, standing as a counterprotest to the pro-Hamas demonstrators, the report in the NYT observed, His presence called attention to the deeply divided opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
#NOW ARRESTS after Police call LEVEL 3 MOBILIZATION as Pro-palestine protesters break through the barricades and are now facing off with the cops outside of #MetGala in NYC as part of ‘DAY OF RAGE’
Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/Z7AblcKB9l
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 6, 2024
Some pro-Hamas protesters set off smoke bombs and flares, adding to the dramatic scene and signaled their refusal to be ignored, according to a report in Time Magazine. As they continued their march, additional barricades were removed, indicating a determined effort to make their presence felt.
Footage circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed officers detaining several protesters outside the gala. Time also reported that across the street, other demonstrators chanted “Let them go,” a plea for the release of their fellow activists. The night continued with protesters employing tactics to evade police, including taking sudden detours and switching between sidewalks and streets. According to reports, the demonstrators were eventually turned around and returned to Park Avenue.
#NOW Protesters set off flares and smoke bombs as they continue to march near the entrance to the #MetGala in NYC. pic.twitter.com/O0i8WNCl2u
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 6, 2024
The NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) was heavily involved in monitoring and responding to the protesters’ movements. Despite the protesters’ efforts to navigate through the city’s grid, multiple arrests were made, a fact confirmed by the NYPD to The Independent, although specific details about the arrests were not disclosed.
These protests highlight the ongoing tensions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
