TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) — Tensions were high in New York City as dueling groups of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests clashed in Times Square on Friday.
Organizers of the pro-Palestinian side called this the “International Day of Outrage,” a demonstration in solidarity with Palestine, marking the last day, and last Friday of Ramadan. Organizers say the goal of the rally is to take a stance against the occupation of Palestine.
Pro-Israel demonstrators then showed up to confront that rally, with Eyewitness News video capturing a few skirmishes on camera, when the NYPD had to physically separate both sides.
Chants of “Long Live Iran” could be heard, along with pro-Palestinian arguments.
Some protesters came just to demonstrate against the war and American tax dollars funding conflict, and those who are anti-American interventionist.
On the other side, were chants of USA, chants of ICE and chants of Trump.
It is complex, complicated and tense.
Eyewitness News spoke to people on both sides of the demonstrations.
“We are here in solidarity with all the Palestinian people,” said one pro-Palestinian protester. “They have been under the siege from the apartheid Israel forever. So, the world needs to stand aside, and my message right now is enough is enough.”
A pro-Israel protester disagreed.
“They are calling for the destruction of Israel, and they have no idea what it’s like to live in fear in New York City and around the world,” one pro-Israel protester said. “They’re calling for the destruction of Israel and they don’t condemn terrorist attacks.”
Also on Broadway, there was a blue wall of NYPD officers separating the two sides as best as they could.
Officers then escorted the pro-Palestinian protesters down Broadway from Times Square to Herald Square. The pro-Israel side then headed home.
The rally in Times Square is just one of many marches and demonstrations being held around the world.
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