New York Police detains 29 People during the Pro-Palestinian Protest
New York City police said on Saturday that they arrested more than a quarter of a dozen people associated with the Brooklyn Museum’s pro-Palestinian protest on Friday. The rally, which attracted much attention and ended with conflicts with the police, provoked various legal merits against the activists.
The New York City Police Department spokesman said in the e-mail correspondence that six of the twenty-nine detainees were arrested and charged with various crimes, including assault and criminal trespassing. Also, 16 suspects were embarked and allowed to go based on a court summons, while seven others were arrested and released based on a summons.
The protests saw demonstrators occupy parts of the Brooklyn Museum, such as hanging a massive banner across the doorway leading to the museum from the inside and occupying a large part of the building’s halls. According to the eyewitnesses, some of the protesters fought the police officers on the Nomad premises, and there was a constant fight between the Nomad protesters and the police at the entrance to the museum.
Because of these disruptions, the museum closed an hour early. A museum official described the extent of the violence in an e-mail, stating that many installed and newly developed artworks on the museum’s plaza received damages. The spokesperson also revealed that it was apparent that the protesters physically and verbally harassed the museum’s public safety staff.
The protest was initiated when demonstrators took to a street in Brooklyn in their hundreds. Bystander accounts in the scene reported by the Reuters news agency said that a contingent of demonstrators stormed the museum entrance and attempted to force its way in. At the same time, security guards barred many from the building; others could still gain entry into the structure. One could never miss the white writing on the red background painted across the neoclassical main entrance of the museum that read “Free Palestine, Divest From Genocide. ”
It was organised by the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime that ordered the demonstrators to ‘flood Brooklyn Museum for Gaza. The demonstrators intended to demand that the museum owners disclose any connection with the state of Israel and, if confirmed, withdraw such funding support.
Studying and demanding change in actions in Gaza by Israel Students have been holding protests across the United States, especially university ones. These protests show an increase in the level of discontent and solidarity with the Palestine issue by different forms of student organisations and universities.
On Saturday, the Chicago Tribune revealed that hundreds of students and faculty members walked out during the University of Chicago’s graduation ceremony, thus proving that such actions have become more extended.
The Brooklyn Museum event is among the growing number of reactions, clearly showing how divided society is regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thus, these protests unfold, revealing the roots of the conflict and people’s attitudes towards this chronic and disputed region.
While Facebook protests are fought for the goal of drawing attention and demanding the release of the Palestinian cause, the actions and consequent police reactions reflect the issue’s multifaceted nature and the difficulties observed in institutions and police forces’ approaches to such events. This is the reason why dialogues, as well as non-violent approaches, should be taken into consideration to support the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
