New York City's Labor Day parade was thrown into chaos Tuesday as thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the event, wielding smoke bombs and flags associated with the Hamas and Hezbollah terror groups while shouting anti-Israel slogans. The disruption resulted in four arrests following a skirmish with a small contingent of demonstrators carrying Israeli flags.
One pro-Israel participant told the New York Post, "We have to push back. Our voices are being drowned out. We need to make ourselves heard, but in a respectful manner."
"It is especially heinous to express support for Hamas on the same day as the funeral for an innocent American hostage who they brutally murdered," - statement by the White House spokesperson Andrew Bates to The Times of Israel following today's protest in NYC. pic.twitter.com/zrqoBQVbWd
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) September 3, 2024
According to the outlet, an estimated 7,000 pro-Palestinian protesters joined the event, which was originally intended to honor workers' rights in the United States. The disruptive demonstrators chanted slogans including "Free Palestine" and "Resistance is justified when people are under occupation."
The White House swiftly addressed the incident, condemning it in strong terms. Spokesperson Andrew Bates said, "It is especially heinous to express support for Hamas on the same day as the funeral for an innocent American hostage who they brutally murdered. This is a moment for all Americans to come together and stand against antisemitism and against the sickening hate and evil that Hamas represents."
