NEW YORK — Pro-Palestinian protesters flooded New York City on Monday, staging a march outside the Stock Exchange, where anti-Israel fireworks erupted among demonstrators in a continued warning sign for Democrats.
On the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, protesters at various locations across the city waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading “cease fire now,” “Free Palestine,” “If I die U must live to tell my story” and “Israel is starving Palestinian Children.”
A demonstrator who called himself Nas said, that because the Biden-Harris administration supports Israel, “every Muslim in this election should vote to punish the Democrats.” He said he has no plans to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
“I’m voting for Trump,” he said. “You can disagree with me. That’s no problem, but I want to punish the Democrats. They’re going to pay in the ballot box.”
Israel’s yearlong military invasion in Gaza, and a widening war in Lebanon with Iran’s proxies, have prompted a backlash among liberal Democrats against the administration and Ms. Harris in the election year.
Ms. Harris honored the victims of the attack by planting a tree of remembrance at the vice president’s official residence in Washington. Asked about negotiations for a cease-fire in the Middle East, Ms. Harris told reporters “we’re not giving up.”
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“We’re doing everything we can possibly do to get the cease-fire hostage deal done,” she said. “It’s one of the most important ways we will be able to end this war and bring any type of stability to the region. It’s one of the highest priorities of this administration.”
During an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired Monday night, Ms. Harris refused to say whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “close ally.” She said Americans and the Israeli people “have an important alliance.”
Mr. Trump marked the anniversary by attending remembrance events in New York and Florida. Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the atrocities, including the capture of innocent Israelis and Americans, “would have never happened if President Trump were still in the White House.”
“For Americans and Israelis alike, it’s imperative that President Trump is reelected so he can end the bloodshed caused by an emboldened Iranian terrorist regime, which is stronger and richer today from the Harris-Biden Administration’s incompetence and weak policies,” she said.
Elsewhere on the anniversary of the attack, the Abandon Harris campaign endorsed Green Party candidate Jill Stein and her running mate for the November presidential election.
The campaign, previously known as the Abandon Biden campaign before the president dropped out of the race, is calling on Muslim Americans and others who are frustrated with the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war to cast their support for Ms. Stein.
“Our movement remains dedicated to ensuring that the American people, especially the Muslim-American community, recognize the responsibility we share in standing up against oppression and using all our power to stop genocide — wherever it may arise,” the release said. “On the precipice of the election, we endorse Jill Stein.”
• Mallory Wilson and Tom Howell Jr. contributed to this report.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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