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Edited by: Fern Sidman
A “Flood Brooklyn for Gaza” protest, drawing an estimated 5,000 demonstrators, took a disturbing turn on Saturday as pro-Hamas marchers swarmed a weeping woman holding an Israeli flag in Brooklyn, as was reported by the New York Post. The incident unfolded during a march that spanned from the Brooklyn Museum to Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, and City Hall. The Post report added that the aggressive encounter highlights the deep-seated emotions surrounding the Israeli-Hamas war and the potential for violence at public demonstrations.
The sizable demonstration, organized in support of “Palestine,” saw thousands of protesters carrying Palestinian flags and signs bearing aggressive messages. According to the Post report, the rally, which included inflammatory messages celebrating the October 7th terror attack carried out by Hamas, attracted significant attention as it progressed through various Brooklyn landmarks. The marchers, chanting slogans such as “Israel we know you, you kill babies too,” displayed a palpable anger directed toward Israel.
Amid the procession, a young female counter-protester was spotted outside an apartment building on High St., silently holding an Israeli flag, as was reported by the Post. A group of approximately 15 marchers broke away from the crowd and rushed across the road to confront her. The report also said that a brief tug-of-war ensued as some attempted to wrest the flag from her grasp, while others shouted vicious insults, including, “Burn in hell!”
Reacting swiftly to the escalating situation, half a dozen police officers rushed to the woman’s aid, forming a protective barrier around her and separating her from the overtly hostile group of Hamas terror supporters. The officers urged the marchers to express themselves verbally and then step back. The Post report said that despite the tense encounter, no arrests were made, and the march continued over the Brooklyn Bridge.
As the protest proceeded, additional disturbing incidents unfolded. As indicated in the Post report, protesters were seen spitting on an Israeli flag that had been set ablaze before the group gathered at City Hall. The act of flag desecration further heightened tensions and underscored the intensity of emotions on display during the rally, the Post report added.
By the evening, the rally had shifted to New York University’s campus, where approximately 2,000 protesters gathered near Washington Square Park. The Post reported that a moment of silence and prayer was observed before the remaining demonstrators headed to Union Square Park. The shift in location did little to dampen the charged atmosphere that had characterized the earlier stages of the protest.
As the global community watches events unfold, concerns arise about the broader implications of these confrontations.
