Oct. 7 attack: Pro-Palestinian protests, college walkouts expected in NYC one year later
NEW YORK (WABC) — A vigil to remember those killed and missing in last year’s Hamas attack on Oct. 7 will come within blocks of a pro-Palestinian march Monday night.
There have been two arrests during a protest in New York coinciding with the October 7 anniversary, the NYPD said.
Protesters marched from Wall Street to City Hall to Washington Square Park to Union Square and were heading to Times Square, Grand Central and eventually Columbus Circle.
Simmering anger got added to the mix from the start when counter-demonstrators showed up on Wall Street — leading to confrontation and hostility. There, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters unfurled a massive Palestinian flag in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
“It’s important for us to also not be scared of coming out here today just because they don’t want us to, if it was up to the other side we would never be allowed to protest at all,” said protest organizer Nerdeen Kiswani.
However they came face-to-face with pro-Israel protesters.
“I live right here, my kids go to school a block right here, i’s horrible. We’re Israeli and it just feels very unsafe,” a pro-Israel protester named Paul said. “I may sound confident to you but I’m shaking. I can’t believe this is my city, this happening.”
The large crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters made their way to Union Square Park Monday evening and appeared to grow in numbers.
Joe Torres has the latest on a pro-Palestine protest in Union Square Park marking one year since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.
At 6 p.m. in Central Park, a candle lighting ceremony with members of the Jewish community will remember those killed on Oct. 7 with music and prayer. The governor, the mayor, hostage families and others are expected to attend.
NYPD officials are planning to keep both groups separate in what is expected to be the culmination of a tense day of protests and prayers.
It comes after smashed windows, red paint and graffiti including “divest now” was discovered spray-painted on the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center on the City College of New York campus in Hamilton Heights on Monday morning.
CUNY released a statement that said they condemned the “violent vandalism and hateful rhetoric that occurred on two of our campuses,” and they said they will not hesitate to enforce disciplinary actions if any members of the CUNY community are found responsible.
College campuses have long been the setting for protests and that was the case yet again at Columbia University where barricades kept groups apart.
Security was tight in the quad on Monday after last semester a mass encampment was set up which was followed by groups breaking into and occupying a building.
“The people have a right to protest but not a right to destroy our city and that is why we have an all hands on deck,” Mayor Eric Adams said Monday morning. “I will be out here this morning, this evening to also be a part of making sure this city continues to move forward in the right direction.”
ALSO READ: Israel marks 1 year since the October 7th Hamas attack
Josh Einiger has the latest in Tel Aviv
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