NEW YORK -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan on September 27, 2024, to oppose Israel's military actions in Gaza and recent strikes on Lebanon, targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his scheduled address at the United Nations General Assembly.
Multiple protests occurred throughout the day, with the largest disrupting traffic as it moved through Manhattan. Tensions escalated between police and demonstrators after dark in the Upper East Side, resulting in several arrests.
The protests, organized by pro-Palestinian groups including Within Our Lifetime and Jewish Voice for Peace, remained largely peaceful during the day but intensified when a group headed north from Grand Central Terminal. Police surrounded a defiant crowd outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, blocking access to the building.
As the march proceeded to Park Avenue, police ordered protesters to clear the street, leading to arrests when they refused. The confrontations continued near the Loews Regency hotel, believed to be where Netanyahu was staying, with additional arrests occurring around 9:30 p.m. before the protest dispersed.
Earlier in the day, a morning demonstration near the United Nations resulted in 25 arrests as protesters blocked traffic. A video shared by Jewish Voice for Peace showed demonstrators obstructing vehicles exiting the First Avenue tunnel.
In the afternoon, thousands gathered at the New York Public Library's main branch in Bryant Park, where several speakers addressed the crowd. Among them was Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate, who criticized both Democrats and Republicans for their responses to the Gaza conflict.
Many participants, like 47-year-old philosophy professor Karen Frost-Arnold, traveled from various locations to voice their opposition to Netanyahu's policies. Frost-Arnold remarked on the urgency of their cause, especially in light of recent Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
Despite international efforts led by the United States for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Netanyahu stated that Israeli operations would continue. He indicated that discussions regarding the U.S. initiative would take place in the coming days.
The protest, which featured chants and drum beats, remained orderly until it concluded shortly after 6 p.m. This demonstration is part of a broader wave of pro-Palestinian protests in New York City that have surged since the onset of hostilities between Hamas and Israel on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.