Thousands Rally in New York in Solidarity With Palestinians
Pro-Palestine rally in NYC, U.S., Oct. 7, 2024. X/ @EPA_Images
October 8, 2024 Hour: 7:35 am
Protesters chanted slogans such as ‘Israel bombs, U.S. pays, how many kids did you kill today?’
On the first anniversary of Hamas’ assault on Israel which falls on Oct. 7, thousands of protesters took to the streets of New York City to express solidarity with Gaza, demanding that Israel immediately stop the genocide of the Palestinian people.
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The protest, one of many across the United States, started at 1 p.m. local time as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Wall Street. Organized by Within Our Lifetime, a pro-Palestinian activist organization, the protesters unfurled a massive Palestinian flag and chanted slogans in support of Palestine, such as “Free, free, free Palestine” and “Israel bombs, U.S. pays, how many kids did you kill today?”
A female leader of the group passionately declared that they would “flood New York City” in solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon. Protesters proceeded with their march from Wall Street to New York City Hall, Washington Square Park, Union Square, Times Square, and Columbus Circle.
Many participants wore kaffiyehs, passionately playing drums and proudly waving Palestinian flags. They marched through the streets, holding up a wide array of banners and signs, with messages such as “Israel is starving Palestinian children” and “From Gaza to Lebanon, resistance unites us.”
As the march progressed, more supporters joined, hence a protesting throng of some 2,000 people. Falestin Hura, a New Yorker with close ties to Palestine and Jordan, expressed his concerns about the situation, citing the high death toll of over 40,000 people, more than 100,000 injured, and millions displaced in Gaza. Hura added that Israeli authorities should get off Palestinian land, saying “I’m sure you had extremists on every side, but for the most part, the people itself want to live in peace.”
Alongside the larger demonstrations in New York City, hundreds of Columbia University students gathered on campus, while about 300 students at New York University also participated in a separate demonstration. Occasional clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli supporters have occurred in the streets.
Following the arrest of over 100 protesters at Columbia University in April, pro-Palestinian demonstrations began to proliferate at colleges and universities throughout the United States. As students return to campuses this fall, many universities have introduced new policies to restrict protest activities.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli state has killed at least 42,000 Palestinians, 16,900 of whom were children. Israeli soldiers also killed 986 healthcare workers, 146 specialist doctors, and 130 scientists and university professors, as recalled by Raseef22.
This independent digital media also pointed out that Israeli state terrorism has resulted in “17,000 orphans, 23 hospitals out of service, 130 administrative and academic facilities destroyed, 19 cemeteries destroyed, 814 mosques leveled, and 3 churches destroyed.”
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Xinhua – Raseef22
