Monday: Anti-Israel Protests Across Manhattan

Widespread anti-Israel protests are planned across Manhattan on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack. Law enforcement is preparing for the protests, with NYPD officers working extended shifts and colleges increasing security.

YWN

New York City is preparing for widespread anti-Israel protests planned to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Demonstrations are expected to continue through Monday, with events organized at prominent locations across the city, including Times Square, Google’s Manhattan headquarters, and Court Square Park in Queens.

One of the most notable groups organizing protests is the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), which has announced a nationwide “Week of Rage” starting on Oct. 7, targeting college campuses. Another organization, “Within Our Lifetime” (WOL), has called for supporters to “flood New York City for Palestine” to mark the anniversary of the attack that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people in Israel. Last week, WOL staged a protest outside the Loews Regency New York Hotel, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying before his speech at the United Nations.

“On Monday, October 7th, Flood New York City For Palestine, stand with Gaza, and uplift the Palestinian people resisting genocide by any means necessary since 1948,” WOL wrote in a post on X. The group urged participants to “call out of work and school, take to the streets and join us throughout the day” at various protest locations around the city.

Protests are scheduled to take place between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Monday at multiple locations, including Wall Street, City Hall, Washington Square Park, Union Square, Grand Central, Times Square, and Columbus Circle.

Law enforcement is preparing for the protests, with NYPD officers working extended shifts and colleges increasing security. The protests are expected to further heighten tensions, especially on campuses, following Iran’s missile attack on Israel last week.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the city’s preparedness, emphasizing a “zero tolerance” policy for unlawful activity, including property damage and traffic disruption.

“While we acknowledge that the city will respect and protect people’s right to peacefully protest, there will be zero tolerance for those who violate the law, impede traffic, and damage property while doing so,” Adams said. He assured New Yorkers that the NYPD, in coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, would ensure safety at all sensitive locations, with visible and covert security measures in place throughout the city.