Anti-Israel protesters burned an American flag and vandalised a World War I memorial in Central Park on Monday as they were stopped by police from disrupting the star-studded Met Gala.
A 1000-strong mob was blocked by New York City police from reaching the Metropolitan Museum of Art which holds the annual event.
Multiple arrests of pro-Palestine protesters near the Met Gala, where protests at NYU and Hunter College converged. SRG is now marching down the street threatening arrest of anyone in the roadway. pic.twitter.com/VOdd52odeQ
— Isabelle (@isabelle_leyva) May 6, 2024
The incident happened near the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 67th which is very close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art but there was a large police presence near the venue to ensure that the fashion event was not crashed by anti-Israel protesters.
#BREAKING: MASS ARRESTS AT “DAY OF RAGE” PROTESTS OUTSIDE MET GALA IN NYCIt’s still early, so this could get UGLY pic.twitter.com/IeitSr0eMR
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 6, 2024
The protesters clashed with police in several locations near the Met Gala and several arrests were made, videos shared on social media show.
(NYC) H@mas has just entered our beloved Central Park. This is my threshold – time for the National Gaurd! Where is the mayor? Why are our local politicians walking the red carpet of the MET Gala while our city is being completely taken over ?!? pic.twitter.com/9RsGGvHZoT— Manhattan Mingle (@ManhattanMingle) May 6, 2024
A report by the New York Post said that protesters vandalised the General William Tecumseh Sherman bronze statue in Grand Army Plaza and painted “Free Gaza” graffiti in red letter on the base of the statue as they fixed a Palestinian flag to its front.
Police officers arrested about two dozen anti-Israel protesters near Madison Avenue and East 83rd Street as the protesters marched from Hunter college towards Met, according to a report by The New York Post.
Videos on social media that captured the protests showed New York Police Department (NYPD) officers telling protesters that their protests are affecting vehicular traffic and that they should limit themselves to the sidewalk.
The protesters said that they were a part of a “Day of Rage” protest organised by the Palestinian activist group Within Our Lifetime. The group was stopped by police in New York’s Central Park amid chants of “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest”.
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