Palestinian Protests Arrested
Recently, Palestinian supporters in New York City held a protest, which ended in about 300 of them getting arrested. They were accused of blocking the bridges in New York and would not move. They were protesting for the cease of the three month old conflict between Palestine and Israel. Many of the protesters were sitting in the middle of the roads which caused major traffic. This is when police decided to arrest the protesters and reopened the roads. The New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, said that people have the right to protest however, they do not have the right to block roads.
“The goal is to peacefully protest without doing major disruption to the city, some people are not just driving to and from, across our bridges to go to their place of employment, some of them are dealing with some real emergency-type issues,” stated Mayor Adams. Police made exactly 321 arrests. Furthermore, 120 of those were made for blocking the entrance at the Holland Tunnel. People also blocked the path at Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Manhattan bridges.
A Saddening Conflict
Since October 2023, there has been a massive conflict between Palestine and Israel. Many people have expressed their support towards Palestine instead of Israel. “NYPD, KKK, IDF they’re all the same,” is what the protesters were chanting during the protest according to video footage.
This protest was held by the Jewish Voice for Peace Palestine Movement in New York City. The chants were referring to the police department, the Ku Klux Klan and the IDF also known as Israel Defense Forces. “The siege on Gaza needs to end and I’m ready to put my body on the line to end it,” said a protester being dragged away by a police officer.
In South Carolina, something similar had occurred. Protesters interrupted President Biden’s re-election campaign speech. He was giving the speech at a church where white supremacists had killed nine Black people back in 2015. Protesters had chanted to President Biden to “Ceasefire now.”
“I’ve been quietly working, quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza,” said Biden in his speech. Currently, Israel’s campaign has killed over 23,000 Palestinians. Meanwhile, they claim Hamas to be holding more than 100 hostages and killed 1,200 Israelis.
When Will It End?
Unfortunately this war does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Many people have died and suffered due to this immense conflict. While many people have tried boycotting big brand companies that donate weapons, it does not seem to be helping. If this war continues the way it is, there will be no hope for Palestine and the country will be erased from history. Videos and pictures have been circulating around the internet, showing the way Palestine is looking like right now. With many destroyed buildings, and abandoned children roaming around the streets.
While Israel states they are just defending their territory, many people disagree. Israel has been accused of committing genocide to eradicate all of Palestine for good. “A permanent ceasefire, an end to the U.S. government’s arming of the Israeli regime; an end to the siege of Gaza; an end to Zionist occupation, and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners,” are what the protestors have been asking for. Nonetheless, Israel continues to attack Palestine and blame them for this conflict. Still, people are hopeful that Israel will sympathize with the innocent Palestinians someday, and let them be at peace.
Written by Erika P. Cano
Sources:
NBC New York: 300+ pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after simultaneously blocking traffic on NYC bridges, tunnels
US News: Hundreds of Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested After Blocking NYC Bridges, Tunnel
ABC News: Pro-Palestinian protests block New York City bridges, Holland Tunnel; over 300 arrested
Top and Featured Image courtesy of Thomassin Mickaël Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image courtesy of duncan cumming Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
