Thousands march in NYC, joining global day of action demanding Gaza ceasefire

New York, Oct. 4 — Thousands of people came to lower Manhattan’s Washington Square Park today to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.  It was part of the international days of protest against the U.S.-funded genocide that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The action was called by the Palestinian Youth Movement. Imam Tom Facchine of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research denounced the war criminals, Netanyahu and Trump, and their false promise of a ceasefire. So did speakers from the Palestinian Youth Movement, The People’s Forum, Palestinian Feminist Collective, PAL-Awda  and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“As we approach the second anniversary of the Gaza Ghetto uprising, we share the hopes of the people there for a real ceasefire,” said the PAL-Awda speaker, Bill Dores. “If that happens, the only credit goes to the steadfastness of the resistance, of the freedom fighters of Palestine, who remain undefeated, and their heroic allies in Yemen, Lebanon and Iran. … 

“More than ever, we call on the countries of the world to support the call of Palestinian society to support the proposal of the Hague group, led by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. They call for the UN General Assembly to use its Uniting for Peace power to send a  protective force independent of the UN security council to and stop the genocide by force! And for a total arms, embargo and sanctions on the Zionist Reich in Palestine,” said Dores.

Thousands marched uptown from Washington Square. They cheered as onlookers waved a Palestinian flag from their apartment or showed their support from the sidewalk.

People marched by the headquarters of the lying New York Times and through Times Square. The march ended with a brief rally outside the New York Public Library, where a speaker from the Palestinian Youth Movement announced plans for a political campaign against AIPAC. Free Palestine!