On Friday, a significant protest in support of Palestine erupted in Manhattan, leading to the temporary closure of Grand Central Terminal. The demonstration, which began at 5 p.m., saw a large crowd marching through the city, expressing strong opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The event was marked by passionate displays, including the tearing down and burning of Israeli flags, and the dismantling of posters related to hostages held by Hamas.
Organized by groups such as Within Our Lifetime and the City University of New York for Palestine, the protest aimed to draw attention to the situation in Gaza, with calls for an end to various Israeli policies and actions. The organizers’ message, shared on social media, urged a stop to what they described as genocide, siege, blockade, occupation, and other practices linked to Israel.
The Palestinian Youth Movement and other organizations encouraged people to leave their jobs and schools to join the demonstration. During the protest, some participants were seen climbing street posts to remove American and United Nations flags, drawing cheers from the crowd. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) intervened, warning the protesters and eventually arresting a participant who was seen descending from a post.
Tensions escalated when a supporter of Israel and his wife, surrounded by NYPD officers, encountered the protesters near Grand Central Station. Videos showed heated exchanges between the couple and the demonstrators, who chanted slogans against them.
By 9 p.m., the protest had grown significantly outside Grand Central Terminal, prompting authorities to shut down the station temporarily. Videos showed protesters trying to force their way into the terminal, damaging a glass door in the process. The station reopened later that night, around 11:50 p.m., as announced by a Notify NYC alert.
The protest led to several arrests, although the NYPD did not immediately provide a specific count. This large-scale demonstration in Manhattan highlights the ongoing tensions and strong feelings related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.