In a shocking incident that has triggered widespread outrage online, a pro-Palestinian mob can be seen cheering on a protester who climbed a flagpole and tore down U.S. flags as demonstrators marched through central Manhattan over Veterans Day weekend.
One viral clip depicts NYPD officers looking on as pro-Palestinian activists scaled city streetlights to desecrate the flag:
The pro-Hamas mob in NYC cheers with glee as one of their own rips down American flags. pic.twitter.com/T1u0r61lEk
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 11, 2023
Meanwhile, police and protesters clashed on East 43rd Street in Manhattan:
Palestinian activist in headscarf angrily throws American flags to the ground on Veterans Day in NYC.
Several of the flags are replaced with the Palestinian flag.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 11, 2023
The demonstrations began Friday night in Columbus Circle and made their way to Grand Central Terminal, where protestors kicked in the doors as law enforcement sheltered inside:
They are literally destroying American greatness while everyone just stands around watching.
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) November 11, 2023
The demonstrators briefly forced the closure of the transportation hub as they marched through the streets of Manhattan for the second night in a row.
In response, many took to social media to voice concern and outrage.
“Hamasurrection takes NYC this weekend,” wrote conservative political commentator Benny Johnson:
Hamasurrection takes NYC this weekend
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 11, 2023
“These people are enemies of the US as much as they are enemies of Israel,” journalist Emily Schrader wrote. “Stand with justice, stand with liberal democracy, stand with Israel.”
“These people hate America,” conservative podcaster Graham Allen asserted. “They are RIPPING DOWN OUR FLAG and replacing it with the Palestinian flag ON AMERICAN SOIL.”
“Who do these people think they are?!?!?” he added.
A view of Palestinian flag as thousands of pro-Palestinians demonstrators, part of a ‘Flood Manhattan for Gaza’ protest, march from Columbus Circle to Grand Central in New York, United States on November 10, 2023. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“These protests aren’t ‘peaceful’; they’re violent, anti-American, and anti-Israel,” Iranian American human rights advocate Sarah Raviani wrote.
“Tearing down American flags on Veterans Day and replacing them with an enemies flag,” wrote one X user. “Try that in a small town”:
Tearing down American flags on Veterans Day and replacing them with an enemies flag. Try that in a small town😉pic.twitter.com/9RCofkNMAa
— Mark Thompson (@marktmt) November 11, 2023
On Thursday night, pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the lobby of the New York Times while vandalizing police vehicles outside with “Free Gaza” slogans:
JUST IN: New York Times building in New York has been stormed by pro-Palestine protesters who rioted & vandalized a police car
What a terrible attack on our brave journalists & democracy!
The pro-Palestine rioters called to “Free Gaza” and vandalized the police car with “KKK”… pic.twitter.com/Iyx9fnNrRl
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 10, 2023
Last week, pro-Palestinian activists desecrated numerous monuments in Washington DC, including a Benjamin Franklin statue and an Andrew Jackson memorial:
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Father of the U.S.
Today, anti-Israel protesters desecrated his statue.
🇺🇸🇱 pic.twitter.com/Sgm4CgBkKu
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 5, 2023
Protesters were also spotted donning Hamas-style headbands at a demonstration in London:
Terrorist group Hamas-style headbands pictured in London. On Armistice Day. Hate marches. pic.twitter.com/vkVYFYLEUX
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) November 11, 2023
The matter comes as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to promote antisemitic and anti-American sentiment.
Last month, former President Donald Trump accused American universities who hosted radical pro-Palestinian activities of “allowing or enabling the open hatred against Israel and America!”
Counter-protesters hold an Israeli flag across the street from the main pro-Palestinian protest before a march through Midtown Manhattan during a protest calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on November 11, 2023. (Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Podcaster Natalie Winters described walking through the National March to Free Palestine in DC, stating, “I truly don’t feel like I’m in America anymore. It’s not just blatant antisemitism it’s straight up anti-Americanism.”
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
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