Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the U.S. have been celebrating Hamas’ attack on Israel, with clashes sometimes erupting with pro-Israel rallies.
In New York City, fights broke out between opposing demonstrations in Times Square. A group of Palestinian supporters, some displaying swastikas, were chanting, “Free Palestine,” while others called for ending U.S. aid to Israel.
Pro-Israel protesters waved flags and shouted back, “Terrorists!” Police kept the two groups separated.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, condemned the pro-Palestinian rally saying it was “abhorrent and morally repugnant.”
Black Lives Matter chapters across the country showed their support for the Palestinians with posts on social media.
BLM Grassroots, a group that represents different BLM chapters, posted a lengthy statement saying they stand “in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” and that they see “clear parallels between Black and Palestinian people.”
“As Black people continue the fight to end militarism and mass incarceration in our communities, let us understand the resistance in Palestine as an attempt to tear down the gates of the world’s largest open-air prison,” the statement said.
BLM Chicago posted an image on social media that has since been deleted that showed a paraglider donning a Palestinian flag with the caption, “I stand with Palestine.”
“That is all that it is!” the post also said.
Paragliders were used by Hamas to descend on an Israeli music festival Saturday and kill an estimated 260 people.
On Wednesday, they posted on X that they “aren’t proud” of their previous posts, but that they still “stand with Palestine & the people who will do what they must to live free.”
“Our hearts are with the grieving mothers, those rescuing babies from the rubble, who are in danger of being wiped out completely,” it said.
Former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin reposted BLM Chicago’s original post, saying “BLM joins the Democratic Socialists of America in declaring its proud support of Hamas terrorists who are raping women, beheading babies, kidnapping Holocaust survivors, and slaughtering Jews wherever they can find them.”
In Atlanta, more than 75 people protested outside the Israeli consulate on Sunday. They shouted chants in support of Hamas and for ending U.S. aid to Israel.
“We’re here because we think everyone in the United States is funding Israeli apartheid,” said Natalie Villasana, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She said that U.S. military funds would be better used on problems in the states.
Talia Segal, a student at Georgia Tech, carried an Israeli flag to counterprotest.
“Terrorism is never justified,” Ms. Segal, who is Jewish, said. “Their target was Israeli civilians.”
In Chicago, pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside of the Israeli consulate chanting, “Netanyahu you will see, Palestine will be free,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Student groups from California State University held a rally Tuesday in support of the Palestinian people and protesting Israel’s counter-attack. Almost 200 students and others attended the rally with signs calling for the end of aid to Israel and the end of “Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians,” according to the Press-Telegram.
In another part of California, fights broke out in front of Santa Clarita City Hall as pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups held dueling rallies.
Hundreds gathered in Washington on Sunday in front of the White House to show their support for the Palestinians. Palestinian flags and signs were seen waving yelling “Free Palestine.”
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been raging since the surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. Hamas invaded Israel’s territory by air, land and sea, taking Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage.
The terrorists rampaged through communities indiscriminately killing Jewish people, including women, children and the elderly.
Israel declared war on Sunday and launched airstrikes on Gaza.
Nearly 2,000 people have died from both sides with thousands more injured. At least 14 Americans have been killed.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.