Thousands of people marched in Manhattan on Feb. 4 to demand a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza. At least 30,000 Palestinians, including 10,000 children, have been murdered there.
The action, called by the Shut It Down for Palestine Coalition, started with a rally in front of the great reference library on Fifth Avenue.
One of the speakers was Manolo De Los Santos, executive director of The People’s Forum, who has been targeted for arrest by the cops. Police busted De Los Santos again at Sunday’s peaceful protest, along with six other people.
The recent series of arrests is part of an attempted crackdown on the pro-Palestinian events. It’s reminiscent of police attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement.
One of the cops’ excuses for busting protesters is the use of bullhorns and other sound devices. So people were encouraged to bring noisemakers, drums and anything else to make it louder for Palestine.
Thousands marched down Fifth Avenue and across 34th Street, past the block-long Macy’s department store. Police continually played a recorded message threatening arrests if people didn’t stay on the sidewalk. Nobody was intimated and marchers took to the streets when they could.
People then marched north on Eighth Avenue, stopping briefly at the New York Times, which has been lying about Palestine for 75 years. The march ended at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The complex was built by evicting thousands of Puerto Rican and Black families from the neighborhood. It was a mini-Nakba, like the Nakba that drove 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland.
Among the groups that organized the protest were the Palestinian Youth Movement; Al Awda NY/NJ, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition; Students for Justice in Palestine; The People’s Forum; ANSWER Coalition; Party for Socialism and Liberation; and Neturei Karta, Jews Against Zionism.
Keep it louder for Palestine!
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