Thousands protest in New York City in support of Palestinians in Gaza
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Thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors took to the streets of Brooklyn on Saturday to condemn Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip and call for the “liberation” of the Palestinian territories as they urged the U.S. government to stop sending aid to Israel.
The march was organized by the Palestinian-led community group Within Our Lifetime and started at the Brooklyn Museum and stretched for several blocks, with participants chanting "Free, free Palestine!".
The crowd waved banners and held signs that bore messages including, “We demand a free Palestine” and “Let Gaza Live.”
At the Brooklyn Bridge, a few people scaled a metal support structure and unfurled Palestinian flags, prompting protesters to erupt into chants of, “Gaza! Gaza! Gaza!”
The demonstration was , the latest in a string of protests around New York City since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Saturday’s march took place a day after Israeli forces began what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “the second stage of the war”.
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The museum, which has a large outdoor plaza, has been the site of several large-scale gatherings, including the Black Lives Matter demonstration in 2020.
The final destination was Union Square, where hundreds of protesters stopped to beat drums with some carrying signs that read, “Support Palestinian resistance,”, while others climbed the square’s iconic George Washington statue.
Earlier, there had been multiple protests in the city calling for the US to withdraw support for its Middle Eastern ally.
New York, hosting the world's largest Jewish community outside of Israel, has become a backdrop for a series of demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause, alongside vigils and gatherings expressing solidarity with Israeli victims of attacks by Hamas.
Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israeli settlements from Gaza on October 7. Israel has responded with fierce bombardment of airstrikes on the densely populated enclave killing more than 7, 000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, so far.
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