The latest New York City protest over the Israel-Hamas conflict saw thousands of pro-Palestine protesters on the march through Lower Manhattan on Election Day, Tuesday.
Rally-goers, standing staunchly in support of Palestine, again called for a ceasefire, arguing that since the terrorist group Hamas attacked and killed innocent Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, families in Gaza have been paying the price for the organization’s actions.
Protesters said the goal of the Election Day rally was to put elected officials on notice, charging that Palestinian-Americans would not vote for or support politicians who are backing Israel in the conflict.
“It’s to send a message to these elected leaders, and not just this election, but [in] every upcoming election, that we will not forget the actions that they took against the Palestinian people,” protest organizer Nardeen Kiswani said.
Marching from City Hall, demonstrators took the roadway of the Manhattan Bridge, where traffic was halted for more than an hour as they waved banners and flags, silhouetted by the city skyline. Halfway across, protesters took several minutes to lay out mats for sundown prayers before continuing their advance in the night.
Tuesday’s massive demonstration comes after thousands gathered in Central Park on Monday evening to stand in solidarity with Israel and its people, who have suffered both death and kidnapping at the hands of Hamas.
As of Monday morning, according to published reports, more than 10,000 Palestinian people have died since the conflict began. About 1,400 people in Israel have died, with mostly civilians having been killed in the initial Oct. 7 attack, the Associated Press reported.
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