The Upper Manhattan protest dubbed “Day of Rage for Gaza” lived up to its name Monday night after protesters clashed with police not far from the star-studded Met Gala, leaving dozens arrested.
The demonstration quickly gathered momentum at around 4:30 p.m. on May 6 as hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters assembled outside of Hunter College on 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. Within about 30 minutes, so many people arrived that they spilled into the surrounding streets and roadway, forcing police to shut down traffic.
A slew of pro-Israel protesters also joined the fray, going face-to-face in yelling and shoving matches. Things deteriorated to such a degree pedestrians couldn’t even maneuver down the sidewalk through the vitriolic exchanges.
“We have completely lost control of this,” one beat cop remarked.
“The problem is there are more of them than there are of us,” another officer replied.
Soon thereafter, the pro-Palestine protesters headed uptown toward the Met Gala, only to be rerouted due to police blockades leading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Shifting gears, the group then headed into Central Park before cops again tried to close them in. This did little to dam them, however, as they launched themselves over the greenspace’s walls and back into the roadway.
Glitz, glamor, and chaos
Hundreds of spectators gathered outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to catch a glimpse of their favorite A-list celebrities decked out in lavish dresses while basking in camera flashes. Yet they had no idea of the chaos erupting mere blocks away Monday evening.
Splitting into separate groups, the protesters pushed their way through some police lines, pulling and kicking police barricades. Hijacking the roadway, carrying banners and flying Palestinian flags, protesters threw water at police vehicles and flipped the bird at cops before circling the area around 84th Street and Madison Avenue.
At that point, it seemed police finally had enough of the antics.
protesters threw water at police vehicles and flipped the bird at cops before circling the area around 84th Street and Madison Avenue.Photo by Dean Moses
A legion of NYPD’s Strategic Response Group then descended on the area, warning protesters that arrests would be made if they did not disband.
Moments later, cops began to fulfill their promises — moving in to arrest demonstrators, resulting in numerous clashes.
One protester was tackled to the ground while another was seen being dragged along the concrete. In every direction, people appeared to be taken into custody.
“Get back! Get back!” officers repeated as they shoved members of the press backward toward the sidewalk with batons.
Dozens were reportedly taken into custody by police before the protest began to fizzle out.
The “Day of Rage for Gaza” came on the heels of college protests that saw students at the likes of NYU and Columbia University set up tents on the grounds in an effort to push back against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Things swirled out of control when students and what mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD have labeled as “outside agitators” stormed and then occupied Hamilton Hall. Columbia University has stated it has canceled its commencement ceremony due to the ongoing unrest.
