Groups sympathetic to terror organization Hamas planned and executed a massive rally in New York City on Saturday after vowing to disrupt the Christmas holiday as a means of encouraging people to join the largely anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The groups, including radical liberal groups People’s Forum and Palestinian Youth Movement, organized the protests, which drew huge crowds to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, which disrupted traffic and doubtless left numerous already-panicked last minute shoppers disgruntled at the disruption.
Still, this was the groups’ explicit goal, as they intended to ensure that there would be no Christmas “as usual” as long as people continue to support Israel. Apparently believing that ruining people’s Christmas was a good way to generate public support for their cause, groups such as ‘Mothers for Justice in Palestine‘ and the Long Island chapter of the ‘Party for Socialism and Liberation’ joined in the march.
The protesters were seen unfurling banners targeting companies that do business with Israel in an attempt to intimidate them into boycotts of the only democracy in the Middle East.
Users took to social media to document the marching crowds.
Some of the protesters carried banners with pictures of President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu covered in blood.
A small group of pro-Israel counterprotesters showed up and faced hostility from the larger crowds.
This marked the second time in less than a week that New York City was disrupted by Hamas protests. Earlier this week crowds of Hamas sympathizers clogged mass transit hubs, causing major disruptions throughout the city.
