Violent Clash: Pro-Palestinian Protest Leads to Arrests in Chelsea

On Tuesday night, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the Fashion Institute of Technology in Chelsea, resulting in arrests made by the police. The protest began in Union Square, where the protesters called for a cease-fire as Israel entered the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The march was peaceful, with most of the participants remaining calm and non-violent. However, a few individuals were arrested during the event.

After leaving Union Square, the protesters moved to FIT and gathered around an encampment. The total number of arrests made during this demonstration is currently unknown. Chopper 2’s Dan Rice also noticed part of the encampment being taken down. Celeste Faison, executive director of Movement for Black Lives, highlighted the growth of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in New York due to recent developments in the conflict and images from college campuses.

Faison emphasized that protests aim to disrupt the status quo and raise awareness about repression. Layan Fuleihan, a protest organizer, echoed this sentiment by stating that organizing and coming together can be powerful in effecting change. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams announced a reward of $5,000 for information on vandals who defaced a World War I statue on the Upper East Side, believed to be connected to the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who disrupted the Met Gala recently.

During the Met Gala earlier this year, more than two dozen people were arrested for clashing with police, burning the American flag