Over 1,000 anti-Israel protesters engaged in a “Day of Rage” march in New York City, initially planning to reach the Metropolitan Museum of Art where the Met Gala was taking place. However, the protesters were redirected by police into Central Park and prevented from reaching their destination. During the protest, significant vandalism occurred, including the desecration of the World War I memorial in Central Park, where the American flag was burned and the memorial was graffitied with the word “Gaza.”
The protesters, part of the activist group Within Our Lifetime, aimed to draw attention to the Palestinian cause, demanding an end to what they perceive as genocide and apartheid. Their march from Hunter College was marked by confrontations and chants demanding justice and freedom for Palestine. This led to a significant police response, including the arrest of approximately two dozen protesters near Madison Avenue and East 83rd Street.
The march was fraught with tension, as pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrators clashed. Nearby, a pro-Israel rally in Riverside Park drew nearly 1,000 supporters on the same day, which coincided with Yom HaShoah, the day of Holocaust remembrance. This rally featured speeches from Jewish students and the Israeli ambassador to the UN, who criticized the anti-Israel protests as spreading modern-day Nazi-like ideology.
The event highlighted the deep divisions and heated emotions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflected in the confrontations and rhetoric used by both sides. The day ended with a strong police presence and multiple arrests, underscoring the challenges cities face in managing protests that have the potential to escalate into violence and vandalism.