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The Affluent & Privileged Backgrounds of Pro-Hamas Protesters in Manhattan Chaos
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Recent protests in Manhattan orchestrated by at least six pro-Hamas, pro-terror groups have drawn attention not just for the disruption they caused but also for the backgrounds of those arrested. As was reported by the New York Post, Ivy League graduates, an artist with millionaire parents, and individuals honored by the Obama White House were among the hundreds of protesters causing chaos for commuters.
On Monday, the pro-Hamas supporters coordinated protests with the goal of causing maximum disruption, strategically blocking traffic on key bridges and tunnels leading out of Manhattan. According to the report in the Post, the NYPD and Port Authority Police Department responded with over 300 arrests and issued desk appearance tickets for disorderly conduct charges. The protesters, however, remained defiant on social media, sharing photos and expressing their intent to repeat their actions.
Mass arrests by NYPD after a coalition of pro Palestinian activists created a blockade at the entrance of the Williamsburg bridge in Manhattan #NYC.
Outbound traffic at the Holland Tunnel was also disrupted after being blocked by protest during rush hour. The demonstrations… pic.twitter.com/705Yqk8m2e
— FreedomNews.Tv FNTV (@FreedomNTV) January 8, 2024
A closer look at the arrested protesters reveals a diverse group with privileged backgrounds. Ivy League graduates, including alumni from Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, and New York University, were among those taken into custody, as was indicated in the Post report. Notably, many of them come from affluent neighborhoods in Brooklyn, such as Cobble Hill, Park Slope, and Prospect Heights.
Individuals involved in the protests also included a Fulbright scholar, multiple NYU graduate students, an artist with millionaire parents, and a filmmaker working for HBO and Netflix, as was mentioned in the Post report. One of the arrested individuals, Naay (or Naye) Idriss, a 25-year-old Columbia graduate and NYU graduate student, had previously gained attention for defacing an Israeli mailbag in NYU’s Bobst Library mailroom, the Post report added.
These Protests will not stop 🛑
They will not go away until The Police start enforcing the laws, eventually something bad will happen if this type of behavior is allowed to continue!
This is at the Holland Tunnel and Manhattan Bridge NYC this Morning pic.twitter.com/Yl2j8Te1Hg— James Pleickhardt (@JamesPleickhar2) January 8, 2024
She sued to get her job back, claiming protected speech. After the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, she addressed a rally in Times Square, referring to the murders as “the beginning of our victory.”
Following their arrests, some protesters took to social media platforms to express their defiance. The report in the Post said that one pro-Hamas supporter gleefully shared photos highlighting her involvement, while another boldly proclaimed, “We’ll do it again.” This unapologetic stance raises questions about the potential continuation of disruptive protests in the future.
Profiles of Arrested Individuals:
“Ilana Cruger-Zaken…is a graduate student at NYU, studying Judeo-Neo-Aramaic dialects of Northeastern Kurdistan.”
Useless degree, useless person who generates nothing of value for society but will demand that the rest of us pay off her student loans.https://t.co/SFokFpXsy7
— Cherry “Born Maskless And Staying That Way” Davis (@DACDAC4DAC) January 11, 2024
Ilana Cruger-Zaken (36):
Residence: South Salem, Westchester.
Student at NYU’s Center for Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement.
Focuses on studying Judeo-Neo-Aramaic dialects of northeastern Kurdistan.
Celebrated her arrest on Instagram, expressing readiness to repeat the action.
Daniel Kim (28):
Graduated from NYU Law School.
Works as an attorney for the nonprofit Bronx Defenders.
A dedicated activist involved in the Manhattan protests.
Lina Cohn:
Yale graduate.
Filmmaker from Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Her work has received praise from reputable sources, including the New York Times.
Trava Tam (29):
Hails from Roswell, Georgia.
Population scientist for property firm Zillow.
Fulbright Scholar in 2016 with a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Unmasked #antiIsrael elitists who paralyzed NYC traffic this week & threaten to do it again & again.#NaayIdriss#IlanaCrugerZaken#TrevaTam#AzaniCreeks#DanielKim#AnnHolder#SunitaViswanath#StephanShaw#EliCoplan#NoraHerzog#BenSnyder pic.twitter.com/ADhEYb0YYX
— Banafsheh Zand بنفشه پورزند (@zanditon) January 11, 2024
Azani Creeks:
Based in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.
A graduate of the Harvard Divinity School.
Works for the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, advocating against Wall Street practices.
Ann Holder (66):
Pratt Institute teacher specializing in gender and sexuality.
Participated in the 2020 “scholars strike” during the Black Lives Matter movement.
Purchased a $1.2 million condo in Prospect Heights in 2022.
Blocking traffic to Brooklyn Bridge Monday Jan 8th rush hour.
Photos courtesy of @LuigiWMorris! 🙏🏾#Ceasefire_In_Gaza_Now #EndTheOccupation #EndTheSiege#StopFundingGenocide pic.twitter.com/3J9fKBbIgM— Sunita Viswanath (@SunitaSunitaV) January 10, 2024
Sunita Viswanath (55):
Former adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ transition team.
White House “Champion of Change” in 2015.
Executive director and co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights.
Arrested with her husband, Stephan Shaw, during the Brooklyn Bridge protest.
Advocates for justice and peace, emphasizing the protest is not antisemitic.
Lives in upscale Cobble Hill, with a second home in El Prado, New Mexico.
Eli Coplan (31):
Renowned artist with work featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Lives in a Park Slope rental in Brooklyn.
Family owns property in California and Colorado.
Parents own a nearly $4 million home in La Jolla, California.
Mother, Debra Coplan, is a former ACLU board member with civil rights activism roots.
Confirmed participation in shutting down NYC through an Instagram reel.
Signed an open letter condemning the narrative linking criticism of Israel to antisemitism.
Nora Herzog:
A nonbinary drag queen.
Graduate assistant at NYU’s School of Medicine.
Focuses on studying the herpes virus.
Uses their platform to condemn Israel’s actions.
Advocates for a creative and direct approach to support Gaza and the West Bank.
Nonbinary identity reflects the diversity within the activist community.
Declined to comment but emphasized the need for creative action to inspire solidarity.
🚨NYC Cops Used an electric saw to remove pro-Palestinian protesters that had chained themselves together to block the Williamsburg Bridge in protest of U.S. support for Israel’s continued slaughter in Gaza… pic.twitter.com/TlXoAl4Lj8
— Status Coup News (@StatusCoup) January 10, 2024
Ben Snyder (36):
Brooklyn artist and filmmaker.
Graduated from NYU’s film school.
Won the Best Screenplay award at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival for “Allswell.”
Worked for HBO as a producer on the show “Betty” and wrote for Netflix’s “Grand Army.”
Featured at Cannes, Aspen, and Austin film festivals.
Arrested during the Manhattan protests.
Declined to comment, referring inquiries to the protesters’ spokesperson.
Insights from the Protesters’ Spokesperson, “Mon”:
Creative and Direct Action: According to Mon, the protesters sought “creative and direct action” to express solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank. The use of artistic expression within the protest aligns with the diverse backgrounds and creative inclinations of the individuals involved.
Response to Commuters: Mon acknowledged that some commuters were frustrated, including one father who confronted the protesters. The spokesperson emphasized that the NYPD did not handle the situation lightly, leading to arrests and extended periods of custody for some individuals, along with reported migraines.
The spokesperson, “Mon,” emphasized the importance of creative and direct action in fostering solidarity. As the legal aftermath unfolds, the episode prompts broader discussions about the role of artists and filmmakers in expressing dissent and advocating for social and political change.
As the legal aftermath unfolds, the episode prompts broader discussions about the role of artists and filmmakers in expressing dissent and advocating for social and political change.