Saturday, November 25, 2023

"Free Palestine" protesters demonstrate at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Hanh Nguyen
Thu, November 23, 2023 

Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images


Pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning, some staging a sit-in on the parade route.

According to ABC 7 New York, about 30 protesters dressed in white coveralls doused in reddish juice – presumably to mimic blood – and adorned with words like "Racism," "Colonialism," "Consumerism" and "Ethnic Cleansing" ran into the streets, shouting "Free Palestine" or sitting down on the pavement. Some also brandished a banner that read, "Liberation for Palestine and Planet" featuring images of a cut watermelon and sunflower, symbols for Palestine and Ukraine.

Floats for LEGOs, Minions and "Dragon Ball" veered around the protesters. A few activists could be seen taken into police custody, reports ABC News. Many onlookers could be heard booing.


Separately, other protesters not dressed in jumpsuits marched along chanting, "Not another nickel, not another dime. No more money for Israel's crimes," while holding signs and banners that read, "Genocide Then, Genocide Now." Some flashed Palestinian flags.


The theme of protesting the war during a consumerist holiday with roots in colonialism was not lost on many who took to social media to add their voices to the protest.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day ceasefire to enable the exchange of prisoners.


Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Jessica Wang
Thu, November 23, 2023

Several individuals were taken into custody.

Pro-Palestine protesters temporarily interrupted Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning, donning white jumpsuits and appearing to glue themselves to the pavement to call attention to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The protestors demonstrated along Sixth Avenue and held banners that read "Free Palestine" and "Liberation for Palestine and Planet," according to footage captured by Fox 5 and Newsday, among other outlets. Their jumpsuits had "colonialism," "capitalism," and "racism" written on them.

The New York Police Department couldn't confirm how many protesters were involved, but told EW that several individuals were taken into custody.


John Lamparski/WireImagePalestinian supporters demonstrate outside of Fox studios during the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade


Climate coalition Seven Circles Alliance has claimed responsibility for the demonstrations, citing the need to "bring attention to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians" in a video shared on Instagram. "Confronting the issues of capitalism, along with colonialism and imperialism, head-on is urgently required by environmental and social justice groups, as well as everything in between," they said.

During the broadcast, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden dialed in to chat with Al Roker and urged viewers to "come together" this holiday season. "We can have different political views, but we have one view: the one view is we're the greatest nation in the world," the president said. "We should focus on that, and we should focus on dealing with our problems and being together, and stop the rancor."

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City

Stephen Sorace
FAUX NEWS
Thu, November 23, 2023

Groups of pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, with some chanting and singing "Palestine will be free" while others glued themselves to the street along the parade route.

One group of protesters took to the parade route in midtown Manhattan and unfurled a banner reading, "Liberation for Palestine and Planet." They called for an end to fossil fuels while supporting Palestinians in Gaza.

The protesters wore white jumpsuits, doused themselves with red liquid and glued their hands to the street to try to disrupt the parade. The crowd lining the sidewalk could be heard drowning out the chants with boos.

NYPD officers were seen removing the protesters from the street and taking them away from the scene so that the parade could continue.

PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLIES IN NYC AND DC INTERRUPT CROWDED HUBS DURING RUSH-HOUR COMMUTE

On another part of the parade route, protesters waving Palestinian flags and holding pro-Palestinian signs were singing a variety of chants, including "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."



Some protesters chanted "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Some chanted, "There is only one solution, intifada revolution," while others called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

They also chanted, "There is only one solution, intifada revolution."

In another act of protest, an individual aboard a Native American float whipped out a Palestinian flag during the parade’s broadcast on television.

The float from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, also known as the People of the First Light, was passing Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street in midtown Manhattan when a male individual unfurled a small Palestinian flag and raised it above his head.

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who were announcing the floats at that point during NBC’s broadcast of the parade, said that the "float represents the promise of the future guided by the knowledge of our shared heritage."

Pro-Palestinian protests have broken out across many U.S. cities and college campuses in recent weeks, with many demanding a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters in New York City converged near Penn Station and blocked access to the main train hub in and out of the city. Other pro-Palestinian protesters in San Francisco and Boston also temporarily blocked traffic on bridges during rush hour.

Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas after the militant group launched its Oct. 7 surprise attack, in which at least 1,200 people died in Israel and around 240 were taken captive by militants back to Gaza.

More than 11,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

AARON KATERSKY and NADINE EL-BAWAB
Thu, November 23, 2023 

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was temporarily halted when a group of about 30 pro-Palestinian protesters ran into the street and apparently glued themselves to the pavement of the parade route in New York City.

The protesters were demonstrating along Sixth Avenue when a handful of them jumped the barricades and ran into the street along 49th Street.

PHOTO: People demonstrate during the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, in Manhattan, New York City, Nov. 23, 2023. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

MORE: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Through the Years

In videos posted online, protesters can be seen demonstrating on Sixth Avenue near 34th Street.

They chanted "no more nickels, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes" and "Free free Palestine." They were also holding up Palestinian flags and papers that said "genocide then, genocide now."

The protesters are later heard yelling, "Viva, viva Palestina."

Officials said the protesters were taken into custody.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called into the parade to give their thanks and urged Americans to "come together."

"We have to remind ourselves how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth," the president said. "Today is about coming together, giving thanks for this country we call home. And thanks to all the firefighters, police officers, first responders and our troops, some of whom are stationed abroad."

MORE: 'We have to come together': Biden calls into Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1927. It's been a holiday tradition ever since.


Pro-Palestinian Protesters Briefly Disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Kelby Vera
Updated Thu, November 23, 2023 

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted New York City’s annual Thanksgiving’s Day Parade by gluing themselves to the parade route.

Demonstrators ended up diverting Thursday’s procession after several people from a 30-person protest jumped over barriers near West 45th Street and fixed themselves to 6th Avenue around 10 a.m., according to ABC News.

The protesters, who were wearing fake-bloodied jumpsuits with the words “colonialism,” “racism,” “militarism” and “ethnic cleansing” on them, were detained by New York Police Department officers.

During the skirmish, Thanksgiving Day floats, bands and balloons were redirected from 6th Avenue to their final destination at Macy’s in Herald Square.


Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City on Thursday.

Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City on Thursday.

Protesters wave Palestinian flags as performers move along 6th Avenue.

Protesters wave Palestinian flags as performers move along 6th Avenue.

After demonstrators glued themselves to 6th Avenue, the parade was diverted around them.

After demonstrators glued themselves to 6th Avenue, the parade was diverted around them.

New York City police officers take pro-Palestinian protesters into custody during the Thanksgiving Day parade.

New York City police officers take pro-Palestinian protesters into custody during the Thanksgiving Day parade.

The protesters' jumpsuits had been doused in fake blood.

The protesters' jumpsuits had been doused in fake blood.

The demonstrators wore jumpsuits with the words “colonialism,” “racism,” “militarism” and “ethnic cleansing” on them.

The demonstrators wore jumpsuits with the words “colonialism,” “racism,” “militarism” and “ethnic cleansing” on them.

Video from the scene taken by Newsday reporter Matthew Chayes showed a green dinosaur balloon sponsored by the Sinclair Oil Corp. floating behind them at the time.

According to WABC-TV in New York City, parade spectators booed the protesters once they were aware of the disruption.

The television station also reported disturbances at West 49th Street and at West 59th Street. Fox 5 New Yorkreported that protesters wearing “Free Palestine” shirts were detained near West 55th Street.

Police presence was high during this year’s Thanksgiving Day parade, which was expected to draw 3 million people.

Though there were no credible threats ahead of the event, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner told CBS News the department was ready to handle any disruptions that might arise.

“We will not compromise on public safety, absolutely not. Not in this environment, not when there’s so much going on,” Weiner said, pointing to public tension over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

President Joe Biden made a call for unity while he and first lady Jill Biden spoke to NBC’s Al Roker by phone during the parade.

“We have to come together,” he told Roker. “We can have different political views, but we have one view. The one view is we’re the finest, the greatest nation in the world. We should focus on that. And we should focus on dealing with our problems and coming together ... and stop the rancor. We have to bring the nation together.”

Olafimihan Oshin
THE HILL
Thu, November 23, 2023



More than two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

New York ABC affiliate WABC reported the protest happened at Sixth Avenue at West 45th Street about 10 a.m. Thursday. Protesters reportedly jumped over the barricades, ran into the streets and glued themselves to the parade route.

The demonstrators, about 30 of them, wore white jumpsuits sprayed with fake blood and labeled with words like “colonialism” and “consumerism,” according to WABC.

Their protest began 90 minutes after the annual parade began. Spectators started to jeer the demonstrators once they realized what was happening.

Authorities arrested the demonstrators and took them into custody after they refused to leave the area.

Disturbances were also reported at two locations at West 49th and West 59th streets, WABC reported.

This staged protest is similar to one that occurred in 2014, where police arrested seven people protesting the court’s decision to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting of Black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., WABC noted.

The Hill has reached out to the NYPD for more information.

It’s been a month since Hamas’s surprise attack against Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of around 240 hostages by the militant group.

In response, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes and a ground invasion in Gaza, resulting in the death of at least 13,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The incident comes days after Israel and Hamas agreed to implement a temporary cease-fire for four days to allow for the safe transfer of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The militant group has agreed to release 50 hostages, all women and children. With the transfer of hostages, Palestinian prisoners will also be released from Israeli jails.

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