Times Square Rally Over Israel Violence Draws NYC Condemnation

NEW YORK CITY — Support for terrorism. Spreading hate. Abhorrent and morally repugnant. Abominable.

New York City's leaders condemned a pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square on Sunday — a demonstration that drew counterprotests from supporters of Israel, sparked a skirmish between the opposing sides and proved emblematic of the wider clash.

Mayor Eric Adams called the rally supported by the Democratic Socialists of America's New York City "disgusting" given innocent people were being killed and children kidnapped in Israel.

"I reject this," he said in a statement. "New York City rejects this.

"Do not use our streets to spread your hate."

At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this.

Do not use our streets to spread your hate.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 8, 2023

Backers of the Times Square rally, including the DSA, argued both Israelis and Palestinians lost their lives in the wake of Hamas-led attacks. Israel's actions that limit Palestinian human rights have created conditions that lead to violence, supporters argued.

"We want to show the world that when Palestine rises up in resistance, the diaspora rises with it," Munir Atalla, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said.

The dueling Times Square rallies were separated by police barricades until the pro-Palestinians eventually marched away chanting "free, free Palestine, long live Palestine" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as tourists and onlookers snapped photos.

As the group walked toward the United Nations compound, a short scuffle broke out in the crowd. A man ripped away an Israeli flag and threw it to the sidewalk, where people stomped on it.

NYPD officers separated the two sides.

The rally largely drew denunciations from New York City's political leaders.

"The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings," said Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a statement. "I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant."

Rep. Ritchie Torres called it a "hate rally."

"The DSA is calling for the destruction of the Jewish State amid the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust," he tweeted.

The DSA held a hate rally, chanting: “from the River to the Sea,” which is code for wiping Israel from the face of the earth.

Let that sink in. The DSA is calling for the destruction of the Jewish State amid the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. When…
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) October 8, 2023

Comptroller Brad Lander deemed the rally "abominable" and said it effectively celebrated Hamas' murder and kidnapping of hundreds of Israeli citizens.

"It is important to work for Palestinian human rights, lives, and freedom – and I am long on the record calling for an end to the Occupation," he tweeted.

"But Hamas' murderous terrorism does not advance that cause. And there’s nothing progressive or liberatory about glorifying it."

It is important to work for Palestinian human rights, lives, and freedom – and I am long on the record calling for an end to the Occupation.

But Hamas’ murderous terrorism does not advance that cause. And there’s nothing progressive or liberatory about glorifying it.
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) October 8, 2023

The Associated Press contributed to this report.