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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators swarmed the streets of Manhattan on Monday, marking the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks. According to a report in The New York Post, the protest stretched from Columbia University to Wall Street, causing chaos across the city while keeping the NYPD on high alert. Protesters voiced their visceral hatred of Israel in a series of large-scale demonstrations that disrupted daily life across key areas of the city.
As The New York Post reported, the unrest was anticipated early in the day when anti-Semitic vandals targeted a City University of New York (CUNY) campus uptown. The perpetrators smashed windows and defaced a building with anti-Israel graffiti, an action that called attention to the tense atmosphere surrounding the day’s events. The NYPD prepared for the worst, with dozens of gatherings expected citywide, but the demonstrations in Times Square and Central Park were of particular concern. These high-profile locations drew crowds that threatened to disrupt the city’s busiest areas during peak hours.
“We will protect everything, whether it’s protesters, New York City people just going about their business, and everyone in between,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said during a briefing in Battery Park, according to The New York Post. Chell emphasized that while the NYPD would allow peaceful protests, they would take action if any of the demonstrations crossed into illegal activities. “When it crosses over into crime, we will be as professional as we can,” he said. “We’ll do what we have to do, and we’ll keep the day flowing.”
By early afternoon, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators had already gathered at Columbia University, positioning themselves outside the iconic Low Memorial Library. As The New York Post described, these demonstrators chased away a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters who had gathered earlier. The chants of the anti-Israel crowd included rallying cries such as “Mobilize the Intifada!” and “Palestine will be free!” as well as more hostile slogans, such as “Israel go to hell!” In essence, the pro-Hamas, pro-terror demonstrators were calling for Jewish blood to be spilled across the globe. Despite the intensity of these statements, the crowd remained largely peaceful.
Earlier in the day, a pro-Israel group had attempted to counter the protests, but they were quickly outnumbered by the anti-Israel demonstrators. According to The New York Post, shortly after noon, another anti-Israel group began assembling near the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. As tensions escalated in the financial district, police began setting up barricades at Washington Square Park, preparing for a massive protest organized by the anti-Israel group, “Within Our Lifetime.”
As the day progressed, protests continued to erupt across the city. Around 3 p.m., hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside City Hall, waving Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza. The New York Post noted that while the protests were primarily focused on expressing solidarity with Hamas, the sheer number of demonstrators and the disruption they caused raised concerns about public safety.
The New York Post also reported on the scene outside NYU’s Lower Manhattan campus, where around 75 people, representing both pro- and anti-Israel sentiments, had gathered. The division among the protesters highlighted a broader national schism, which has seen an uptick in confrontations between supporters of Israel and Hamas apologists.
Among the protesters was a freshman student from NYU, who expressed their desire for more open discussions on the complex issue. As The New York Post highlighted, the student commented, “We want the openness, and we want the dialog. It’s what America’s for. It’s terrible that this is what we have to do, which is terrible that Jewish, specifically Jewish students, have to face this on a daily basis.” Their statement captures the sentiments of many Jewish students who have increasingly felt targeted on campuses, as protests and acts of vandalism have intensified.
The decision for Jewish students to display symbols of support for Israel, like yellow pins, has not come easily. According to The New York Post, the same NYU freshman debated wearing a yellow pin, a sign of solidarity with Jewish hostages held by Hamas. The student’s inner conflict was evident: “It was an inner battle I had prepared in time. I decided to do it because … I should.” Such emotional battles speak volumes about the challenges Jewish students face in asserting their identity amid growing hostility.
Earlier that same day, The New York Post reported that vandals shattered windows at the City University of New York (CUNY) Advanced Science Research Center in Upper Manhattan, marking the building with graffiti that read, “Divest now.” This vandalism was an early indication of the day’s unrest, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel. The October 7 assault, a horrific surprise attack that claimed the lives of 1200 Israelis and others has since fueled a series of protests across the U.S., with the five boroughs of New York City being among the most prominent sites of demonstrations.
Jewish residents, as well as local political figures, expressed deep frustration with the unrest. The New York Post quoted City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx), who stressed the need for space and respect during the mourning process. “We should be given space to mourn, commemorate those who were massacred,” Dinowitz stated. This plea for calm reflects a broader sentiment among Jewish communities in New York, who continue to feel besieged by an escalating wave of anti-Semitism.
On the same day, U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY) took to social media to reflect on the emotional toll that the events of October 7 had on his community. As reported by The New York Post, Ryan wrote, “We all lost a part of ourselves on October 7. But as we take this time to mourn and reflect on that tragic day, I want to remember the members of our Hudson Valley community who paid the ultimate price.” His message of reflection served as a reminder of the far-reaching impact the conflict has had, not just on Israel but on Jewish communities across the globe.
This series of events points to a deeper problem: the rise of anti-Semitism linked to global conflicts. As noted by The New York Post, the unrest sparked by the Israeli-Hamas conflict continues to stoke tension on American campuses, forcing students and residents alike to navigate an increasingly polarized landscape. For many, the right to express support for Israel is becoming fraught with risk, particularly as protests escalate into acts of vandalism and violence. These demonstrations, as seen at NYU and CUNY, illustrate the growing divide in American society over the issue of Israel and its right to defend itself against external threats.
