Supporters of the Palestinian cause held a number of protests in Washington D.C. and New York City on Friday, causing significant traffic and public transportation delays. The new wave of demonstrations came after an attempted breach of the Democratic National Committee near the U.S. Capitol earlier in the week.
Hundreds of protesters blocked traffic during rush hour in both major east coast cities. The protesters called for a cease-fire in the ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas.
Protesters blocked the entrance to Union Station in Washington.
Demonstrators used the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which critics argue is a call for the destruction of Israel.
A number of signs carried by the protesters called for the United States to stop all aid to Israel. In another incident, protesters blocked public access at New York’s Penn Station. Nearby, protesters climbed to the top of the station and waved Palestinian flags.
The incidents caused the local transit authorities to issue an advisory. Buses leaving the area were also delayed due to the protest.
The protests resulted in the New York Police Department (NYPD) shutting down several subway stations and entrances.
In a separate incident, a pro-Palestinian group released a map of New York City locations to protest.
The effort called for “direct action” and led to a swift backlash. The social media post by “Globalize the Intifada” was deleted.
Intifada is the term used for two armed uprisings against Israel, which each caused hundreds of deaths.
There have been a number of incidents of antisemitism on college campuses across the country. A number of student organizations at Harvard University signed a letter condemning Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
Separately, protesters attempted to storm the office of the president of the University of Michigan.
BREAKING:
Anti-Israel protesters are clashing with police at the University of Michigan as they break their way into the office of the school’s president
Are they trying to punish him for allowing a Jewish man (@josh_hammer) to speak at the school y-day? pic.twitter.com/BZux6hKpak
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 17, 2023
The incident occurred one day after the college hosted conservative activist, Josh Hammer. Hammer is Jewish.
The Biden administration announced an investigation into issues of antisemitism and Islamaphobia at six colleges.
