- Thousands of anti-Israel protesters clashed with police in Bay Ridge after refusing to clear the Brooklyn suburb they flooded on Saturday
- As night fell, chaos erupted at the “Flood Brooklyn for Palestine” demonstration. Protesters blocked traffic, shouted at police and lit small fires
Chaos erupted between anti-Israel protesters and police in Brooklyn after thousands flooded a predominantly Arab and Middle Eastern neighborhood on Saturday evening.
At the Bay Ridge protests, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted, “Move, police, get out of the way.” “We know you are trained in Israel,” as they descended on the community, stopping traffic and lit fires.
The protesters, part of a procession dubbed Flood Brooklyn for Palestine online, began clashing with police as night fell, videos show – their numbers rising to an estimated 5,000 throughout the day.
NYPD officers were subsequently filmed attempting to escort them out of an intersection along Fifth Avenue where they had blocked traffic, with an unspecified number of pro-Palestinians being arrested and taken into custody.
Several of them were seen hitting protesters after rallies gathered to call on the US to withdraw its support for Israel. Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, much of the group refused to comply with police demands.
There’s more to come.
Chaos erupted between anti-Israel protesters and police in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on Saturday evening – after thousands flooded the predominantly Arab and Middle Eastern neighborhood to demand that the US stop supporting the country
During the clash, which peaked in the evening after the number grew to about 5,000 demonstrators, several were seen punching demonstrators. Armed with Palestinian flags and signs, much of the group refused to comply with police demands
“Say it loud, say it clearly, we don’t want Zionists here!” Protesters could be heard shouting across the city, while much of the excitement was confined to 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
“We will liberate Palestine in our lifetime!” others cried and held signs reading “We stand with Palestine” and “Once upon a time…there was humanity,” among other similar sentiments.
Meanwhile, other, more radical revelers – whose ages ranged from teenagers to senior citizens – held signs with scribbles that read: “Zionism is genocide” and that “resistance is justified when people are occupied.”
The embassies appeared to discount and even exonerate the crimes committed by Hamas since October 9, including the kidnapping of several Israeli and American citizens in an apparent declaration of war.
While the conflict is currently being fought abroad, divisions have now emerged in the United States, leading to dueling demonstrations across the country.
It was no different in Bay Ridge on Saturday – although pro-Israelis were kept away from the procession by members of the NYPD.
However, footage from the neighborhood throughout the night showed how the demonstration was still unfolding – as officers tasked with keeping the chaos under control quickly became overwhelmed as the group grew.
Chaos erupted between anti-Israel protesters and police in Brooklyn after thousands flooded the neighborhood on Saturday evening
Anger on NYC streets as thousands of anti-Israel protesters clash with cops after blocking traffic and refusing to leave: NYPD offers brawl with protesters waving Palestinian flags