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'It's a riot, not a protest': Internet backs NYPD after footage of cops 'attacking' #FreePalestine protesters goes viral

On October 21, 2023, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge neighborhood, leading to tense confrontations with the NYPD

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded Brooklyn's Bay Ridge neighborhood on the night of Saturday, October 21, leading to a tense confrontation with the police.

The protest, dubbed "Flood Brooklyn for Palestine," saw a significant turnout of demonstrators in New York chanting slogans and demanding the US withdraw its support for Israel.

Tensions escalate as night falls

As night fell, the procession made its way through the predominantly Arab and Middle Eastern neighborhood, causing traffic disruptions and igniting fires along the way. The atmosphere grew increasingly heated, with the crowd's estimated size reaching up to 5,000 people during the course of the day.

The clash between the protesters and the NYPD officers became apparent, as video footage captured confrontations at various points in the neighborhood.

The officers attempted to clear an intersection on Fifth Avenue that had been blocked by the demonstrators, leading to the arrest of an unspecified number of pro-Palestinian protesters.

Some protesters engaged in physical altercations with the police as the videos showed several instances where officers were seen punching protesters.

The protesters were armed with Palestinian flags and signs, and a significant portion of the group refused to comply with the police's instructions.

The protesters' chants included phrases like, "Move, cops, get out the way. We know you're Israeli-trained," and "Say it loud, say it clear, we don't want no Zionists here!" Their signs bore messages such as "We stand with Palestine" and "Once upon a time... There was humanity."

In addition to these more mainstream slogans, some demonstrators, spanning various age groups, carried signs with more radical statements. These signs asserted that "Zionism is genocide" and argued that "Resistance is justified when people are occupied."

Notably, these messages seemed to overlook or even justify the actions of Hamas, including the recent kidnapping of Israeli and American citizens, which has escalated the conflict.

Domestic divisions

While the conflict in the Middle East was the primary focus of the protest, domestic divisions were evident in Brooklyn and across the United States, as pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators held competing rallies.

In Bay Ridge, the NYPD kept pro-Israeli demonstrators away from the main procession. Despite police efforts to maintain order, the demonstration took a more disorderly turn as the crowd continued to grow.

At night, the protesters made bold demands, such as "full liberation of all of Palestine."

Amid the turmoil, one protester, wearing a T-shirt from the event's organizers, Within Our Lifetime, declared, "We are not like other groups simply calling for a cease-fire; We are calling not simply for an end to genocide but for an end to the siege, an end to the blockade, an end to the occupation."

The rally, which had started peacefully, quickly descended into chaos after sunset. In addition to the local Palestinian community, members of other Middle Eastern groups were also present, all united by the common goal of "ending US-sponsored genocide in Gaza."

Despite the initial intention to keep the protest peaceful, the police were forced to intervene as a small number of participants turned violent.

At least a dozen individuals were arrested as signs accused US officials, including President Joe Biden, of complicity in "killing babies" through Israeli military support.

The protest eventually dispersed, but those supporting Palestine vowed to continue voicing their opinions to prevent further civilian casualties, according to the Daily Mail.

Social media reactions

Meanwhile, many on social media expressed empathy for the challenging job faced by the NYPD during the event, recognizing the difficult circumstances they encountered.

"Get it right: This is a riot, not a protest," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Bless the police. Hard job," another wrote.

"NYPD a tough and unappreciated job," someone else added.

"Thank God they are taking action. We cannot have another summer of love," another offered.