New York City experienced significant unrest on Christmas night as a large group of pro-Palestine demonstrators engaged in clashes with law enforcement. The protests, marked by chants of “Christmas is canceled here,” saw hundreds take to the streets, expressing their opposition in what was interpreted by some as an attack on the Christmas celebration.
During the demonstrations, participants were observed defacing nativity displays, symbolic of Jesus’ birth, with substances resembling blood.
A notable gathering of over 500 individuals rallied around the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a popular holiday attraction, shouting slogans in support of the intifada, disrupting the festive atmosphere.
Protest signs were prominent, with messages such as “While You’re Shopping, Bombs Are Dropping” and “No Joy in Genocide.” The latter was displayed over a nativity scene deliberately stained with fake blood, carried aloft by several protestors.
As the day progressed, the peaceful protests escalated into violence, particularly near St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Scuffles broke out among the crowd, necessitating police intervention.
The protests extended beyond the streets, with demonstrators targeting the homes and offices of Biden administration officials, criticizing the U.S. government’s policies towards Israel, labeling them as ‘genocide.’
The situation intensified into the evening, with the New York Police Department escalating its response to a ‘Level Three’ mobilization, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Arrests were made in the chaos, with at least six individuals detained for various offenses, including disorderly conduct, menacing, and graffiti. The unrest moved through key locations in the city, including Grand Central Station and Union Square, where protesters and police clashed.
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Additionally, protestors left various messages and stickers at the Union Square Holiday Market and other locations, with statements like “Zionism is terrorism,” “Free Palestine,” and “Murdered by Israel,” alongside graffiti denouncing Israeli policies and figures.
