New York, September 3 (RHC)-- New York City police have arrested protestors as thousands rallied in Manhattan demanding an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip and an end to U.S. military support for Israel.
At least 5,000 people rallied in New York’s Union Square on Monday during Labor Day, according to local media, where tensions flared into clashes between opposing groups.
The protesters carried Palestinian flags, Keffiyehs, and banners as they marched down streets in Manhattan for the event titled “Flood NYC for Gaza,” as some protesters lit flares and smoke bombs in the street.
The demonstration, organized by ‘Within our Lifetime’ organization saw protesters banging on drums and chanting “Free Palestine,” “Resistance is justified when people are occupied” and “Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?”
“We are here to change the narrative to expose the lies, to show the truth that masses stand with Palestine,” one protest organizer said.
Demonstrators criticized Washington's ironclad support for Tel Aviv as hypocritical, demanding that taxpayer funds should be redirected towards American jobs and education, while also advocating for divestment from Israel-linked companies.
New York police estimated the crowd as more than 7,000 people and redirected the demonstrators away from the United Nations on the East Side as they attempted to make their way there. At least four protesters were arrested, the NYPD announced in a statement.
Similar protests were seen in the other cities of the Unites States, including Chicago, as demonstrators voiced their opposition to the Joe Biden administration's unwavering support for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Last week, anti-war demonstrators held a historic protest against the Democratic Party to reject the Democratic National Convention for their long laundry list of war crimes as well as supplying the Israeli regime with bombs, ammunition, and other logistics and equipment.
Pro-Palestine demonstrations have taken place worldwide since the start of Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. Many of these protests, which demand an immediate end to the war on Gaza, have been met with police crackdown.
The United States' provision of military supplies to Israel, coupled with Washington’s diplomatic support for the regime's leaders, is among the key obstacles to achieving a ceasefire to stop the mass killing of the Palestinian people and the destruction of the Gaza Strip, according to experts of regional and international affairs.
The U.S., as Israel’s most important ally, has provided Tel Aviv with weapons and intelligence support during the Gaza war and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Late last month, the U.S. completed the air delivery of its 500th consignment of weapons and munitions to Israel since it launched its genocidal war in October.
