Emotions ran wild during a series of Midtown protests on Oct. 8.
Photo by Dean Moses
Tensions ran wild in Midtown on Sunday as thousands of fuming New Yorkers with ties to Israel and Palestine marched in dueling protests.
Authorities did everything they could to separate pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators who flooded streets called for each other’s blood.
This came after the Democratic Socialist Party announced they would be holding a “free Palestine” protest in Times Square on Oct. 8 after Palestinian forces invaded Israel, killing and kidnapping hundreds. The gathering was deemed poor taste by many elected officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul who denounced the action as “abhorrent.”
“The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant,” Hochul said in a statement.
This did not stop many hundreds from assembling, the Democratic Socialist Party were joined by supporters who brandished signs and waved flags in the glow of the surrounding lights.
“Palestinians are right to stand up against occupation and apartheid,” one protester said.
Counter-protesters made up of Israeli supporters were both furious and distraught. Some Israelis said that while they do not agree with everything the government does, the terrorist attack on Israel is inexcusable.
“My daughter, she lives in Israel. She’s 23 and my niece also lives there and my brother and sister-in-law are there right now,” Helen Lewyn wept. “Coming in and murdering children, kidnapping people, murdering them in their bed—the idea that Americans would support this means they are either antisemites or just naïve.”
As Palestinian supporters marched toward the Israeli consulate, pro-Israel demonstrators gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza in the shadow of the United…
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