A hodgepodge of Islamic, left-wing, and Palestinian groups descended on New York City to express support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel.
The Friday “All Out For Palestine” rally was announced days in advance and was met with concern by Jewish figures in New York City, particularly as it came on the same day that Hamas leaders were calling for a global “Day of Rage.” Security around Jewish schools and centers was raised, and some workers were allowed to work from home. However, the rally ended up being peaceful, though filled with inflammatory rhetoric. A Columbia University student who attended the protest told the Washington Examiner.
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Though unable to give a precise number of attendees from the ground, the student confirmed that the 5,000 figure given by NBC News was most likely accurate.
The demonstration began at 3 p.m. in Times Square, where they remained until 4:30 p.m. The student joined the group at around 6 p.m. when the crowd began marching toward the Israeli consulate. The New York City Police Department blocked off the route to the consulate with metal barricades and trucks, which caused the march to be rerouted to the United Nations headquarters.
Near the headquarters, someone on an upper floor raised an Israeli flag from a window, drawing the attention of the protest. After an extended period of anti-Israel chants, the flag was removed.
The march also garnered vocal support from local workers. Owners of food stands cheered on the demonstrators as they walked by, and in one case, the workers of a Starbucks all came out to express support. The march ended back in Times Square.
The student said there was no mention of Hamas during the rally, but several calls and chants for a new intifada, referring to previous uprisings against Israel by Palestinians, which included suicide bombings of civilian targets.
“Intifada until victory!” one frequent chant went. Another said, “Israel, you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide!”
The only counter protesters were a small Jewish group who gathered toward the beginning of the march but soon disbanded.
Aside from individuals attending on their own volition, several organizations also openly participated, including the Islamic Leadership Council of New York, the Palestinian Within Our Lifetime group, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Islamic Al-Adwa, the communist Workers World Party, and the Party for Socialism and Revolution.
Most of the protesters were Arabic, Hispanic, or black. Many immigrants were in attendance, waving a variety of flags from the Middle East alongside the Palestinian, including Lebanese and Algerian flags.
As with previous pro-Palestinian protests over the past week, most attendees appeared concerned about their identity being exposed. Masks, sunglasses, and scarves to cover faces were worn by almost everyone. There was a “general consensus about no phones,” the student told the Washington Examiner, with widespread suspicion of the taking of pictures or videos.
One participant interviewed by the student said attendees were afraid of being doxxed by pro-Israeli groups. She claimed that she had been exposed by the Canary Mission — a watchdog that compiles dossiers largely on pro-Palestinian activists.
Protesters frequently used language accusing Israel of “apartheid,” genocide, racism, and being comparable to the Nazis.
Some parts of the group were optimistic about bipartisan support for the Palestinian cause. Several demonstrators singled out and expressed praise for the social media personality Jackson Hinkle, a self-described conservative who frequently praises Russia, North Korea, and other United States adversaries while heaping harsh criticism on Israel.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Hinkle for comment.
The police presence throughout was substantial — several hundred NYPD officers had the protest surrounded over concerns of possible violence, while several police helicopters monitored it from above.
