Pro-Palestine activists disrupted the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting.
The protestors surrounded the area and chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Video footage showed demonstrators fighting police officers.
🚨: NYPD makes arrests after Palestinian protesters fight some of the officers. More video to come. pic.twitter.com/RJDSFtg4po
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 30, 2023
Ahead of the event, the New York City Police Department warned there may be protest demonstrations.
“While many of these actions would likely constitute First Amendment protected activity, they could prove disruptive to the event and potentially pose a security risk,” the warning stated.
“Malicious actors may view mass gatherings, iconic locations and high-profile events as targets of opportunity during the holiday season,” it added.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators shared their plans to appear at the Rockefeller Center on Instagram.
“This year, Jerusalem’s 13 official churches + the Bethlehem Municipality itself has called to suspend Christmas celebrations in mourning for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Join interfaith groups as we honor the call from Christian’s in Palestine to spend this holiday season standing against the genocide of Palestinians being carried out in our name with our tax dollars,” the group Within Our Lifetime Palestine posted. “Palestine is the birthplace of Christianity, Jesus was a Palestinian, how can celebrations go on as normal when his birthplace is being attacked in the last few weeks alone 20,000 Palestinians including 8,000 children have been killed?”
Pro-Palestine protestors previously attempted to shut down Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
The protestors staged a sit-in march, with some pouring fake blood on each other and chanting “liberation for Palestine and planet.”
Others glued their hands to the street.
