Israel Hamas War: US Nationals Stage Pro-Palestinian Protests At Brooklyn Stadium, Arrested

Pro-Palestinian Protests In USA: For almost eight months, a war has been raging between Israel and Palestine and despite various attempts of ceasefire and peace negotiations, the war has continued and so has destruction and loss of life. Most recently, Israel launched an attack, an airstrike on a shelter camp in Rafah which resulted in the death of 45 people which included women and children; many were burnt alive during this attack and it has been condemned by people from across the world. Despite a pro-Israel stand by the US Government, there have been several nationals who have been protesting against the Rafah Strike by Israel. Recently, dozens of US nationals were protesting at the Brooklyn Stadium and their Pro-Palestinian protests caused the New York City Police to arrest them. Here’s what you need to know…

Pro-Palestinian Protests At Brooklyn Stadium

As mentioned earlier, New York City police said on Saturday they had taken into custody more than two dozen people in connection with Friday’s pro-Palestinian protests at the Brooklyn Museum. On Friday, pro-Palestinian protesters took over parts of the art museum in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, hanging a banner above the main entrance, occupying much of the lobby and scuffling with police, according to witnesses.

US Nationals Arrested For Protesting In Support Of Palestine

Six of the 29 individuals were arrested and charged with offenses including assault and criminal trespassing, while 16 people were released with orders to appear in court and another seven were issued summonses and released, a New York City Police Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. A pro-Palestinian organization named “Within Our Lifetime” urged demonstrators to “flood Brooklyn Museum for Gaza.” It said activists occupied the museum to compel it to disclose any Israel-related investments and to divest any such funding.

Museum Closed An Hour Early, Artwork Destroyed

The museum said it closed an hour early because of the disruption, including skirmishes between police and protesters that took place inside and outside the building. “There was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza,” a museum spokesperson said in an email. “Protesters entered the building, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed. Hundreds of demonstrators were marching through Brooklyn when some of them rushed the entrance, according to a Reuters witness. Security guards prevented many from entering but some managed to get inside. A banner was hung from atop the neoclassical facade proclaiming, “Free Palestine, Divest From Genocide.”

Demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza have continued in the United States, largely on university campuses. On Saturday, hundreds of students and faculty walked out of the University of Chicago’s graduation ceremony, the Chicago Tribune reported.

(Inputs from Reuters)