Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupt Manhattan traffic, urging Friday ceasefire
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators cause traffic chaos and disrupt access to Grand Central Terminal, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
Pro-Palestinian protesters caused major traffic congestion in Manhattan and restricted entry to Grand Central Terminal on Friday night. The demonstrators, carrying Palestinian flags and signs advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, initially gathered at Columbus Circle. They then marched to the east side of Manhattan, including Times Square, before reaching Grand Central. As a result, the terminal was temporarily closed, impacting transportation in the city.
The New York City Police Department informed CNN that numerous individuals were taken into custody during mostly peaceful demonstrations. There is currently a lack of information regarding the specific number of arrests, the charges filed, or the reasons behind the arrests.
Last month, the Israel-Hamas war commenced when Hamas initiated a series of attacks on Israeli communities and gatherings near Gaza on October 7. According to Israel, these attacks resulted in an estimated 1,200 casualties. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, relying on Gaza's Hamas-controlled figures, reports that over 11,000 Palestinians have died in subsequent Israeli attacks in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian protesters in New York on Thursday.
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu/Getty Images
Amin Jaludi was one of the protesters who swarmed the streets Friday - the second straight day demonstrators in Manhattan called for an end to attacks on Gaza.
"We value the importance of advocating for equal rights for every individual, and currently, we observe a disparity occurring between the Palestinians and the Israelis," expressed Jaludi during an interview with CNN. "The incident that occurred on October 7th was undoubtedly terrible, but it does not give justification for the loss of over 10,000 Palestinian lives." Jaludi highlighted that neither he nor his children have any direct familial connections to the Palestinian territories, as they were born in the US.
"I have no personal connection to Palestine aside from a commitment to upholding human rights, as that is the essence of America," he expressed.
Video footage also depicted police preventing demonstrators from accessing The New York Times building on Friday. The previous night, a group of protestors occupied the lobby of the building, resulting in the arrest of several individuals, as confirmed by the police.
The Grand Central Terminal area saw a decrease in the number of protesters by 10 p.m. on Friday, with the police officers remaining in the area for security purposes.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian, Zenebou Sylla, Matt Friedman, and Skylar Harris.
