Hundreds chant for ‘intifada’ at New Year’s Day protest in NYC’s Times Square
Demonstrators hold signs saying ‘Zionism is cancer,’ argue with pro-Israel counter-protesters; sides separated by police on high alert following New Orleans terror attack
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
NEW YORK — Several hundred demonstrators called for an intifada on Wednesday at an anti-Israel protest in New York City’s Times Square to mark New Year’s Day.
Attendees chanted “Resistance is glorious — we will be victorious,” “We will honor all our martyrs,” and “Gaza, you make us proud.” They carried signs that said “Zionism is cancer,” “No war on Iran,” and “End all US aid to Israel.”
“There is only one solution — Intifada revolution,” they chanted, using a common refrain at anti-Israel rallies in the US. “Intifada,” Arabic for “uprising,” is associated with the Second Intifada, a period of terror attacks in Israel in the early 2000s marked by suicide bombings.
Speakers at the Wednesday rally urged attendees to recommit to anti-Israel activism in the new year.
“2024 was a year of struggle against the crime of Zionism,” a speaker told the crowd. “We will be here every single year for generation after generation until total liberation and return.”
Colorful confetti left over from the previous night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations littered the ground and swirled in the air above the rally. Tourists passing by snapped pictures of the demonstrators congregated beneath a massive, illuminated American flag that stands in the plaza.
Many in the crowd wore keffiyehs and face masks — ostensibly in order to shield their identities. Jewish groups are pushing New York State legislators to reinstate a law banning face masks at public gatherings, arguing the masks hinder prosecution of hate crimes and harassment. The legislation’s opponents say it will infringe on free expression.
A handful of pro-Israel counter-protesters showed up to wave Israeli and American flags on the sidelines of the demonstration, while heckling the anti-Israel activists. A Jewish retiree led chants of “Get a job” directed at the protesters.
Arguments broke out between the two sides situated on opposite sides of a metal barrier. One anti-Israel protester shouted “Hamas,” “Go back to Europe” and “You’re all white people” at the pro-Israel demonstrators, and hurled racist slurs at a Black member of the pro-Israel group.
Police separated the two sides when the arguments got heated. Some more measured conversations between the two groups also took place.
NYPD personnel, including counter-terrorism officers, stood in a line near the rally. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said earlier Wednesday that New York State police intelligence was on high alert following the ramming attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
The Times Square protest was organized by socialist and anti-Israel groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the People’s Forum. The New York City chapter of the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace and the fringe anti-Zionist, ultra-Orthodox Naturei Karta sect also attended.
Hundreds of anti-Israel protests have taken place in New York City since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Demonstrators regularly protest in central locations on holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Fourth of July.
Wednesday’s protest mirrored a demonstration held on October 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas invasion, when hundreds of anti-Israel and socialist activists gathered in Times Square to celebrate the attack on Israelis.
