Pro-Palestine Protesters Shut Down Grand Central Station in New York
Hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors gathered in New York City’s Grand Central Station, bringing operations to a halt on Monday.
Organized by Within Our Lifetime (WOL) and led by Chair Nerdeen Kiswani, the protest sought to draw attention to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which, according to reports, have resulted in over 50,700 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, since October 2023.
Participants waved Palestinian flags and displayed signs stating “We are sick from genocide,” while also urging an end to U.S. military support for Israel.
The action coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.
The demonstration occurred on World Health Day, highlighting a contrast between the United Nations’ focus on maternal and newborn health and the reported conditions in Gaza, where pregnant women face bombings, hunger, and limited medical access.
Kiswani, eight months pregnant, spoke outside the UN, addressing the deaths of mothers and infants linked to U.S.-supplied weapons.
Protesters also rallied at the UN and Egyptian embassy, calling on Arab leaders to use Resolution 377 to bypass U.S. veto power and address what they describe as a genocide—a claim echoed by the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
The event faced challenges. Kiswani reported an altercation with an NYPD officer after individuals she identified as 'Zionists' threw objects—such as garbage, water, and a bag of dog feces—from a rooftop, striking and damaging a car windshield.
Police warned of arrests if the group neared the Israeli embassy, prompting Kiswani to note a perceived disparity in treatment.
Despite NYPD barricades, the protest continued, though some countered that it disrupted commuters rather than authorities.
The protesters’ core message was clear: urgent action is needed to address the Genocide in Gaza.