Protesters with the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime marched from the United Nations in Midtown Manhattan to Columbia University in Morningside Heights on Friday, where they joined with students for a vigil commemorating Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who was killed by Israeli Defense Forces in a targeted airstrike while reporting from Gaza.
The demonstrators — who carried Palestinian flags and signs reading, “Globalize the Intifada” and other slogans — started marching around 4 p.m., pausing outside several landmarks, including the Israeli Embassy, NBC Studios and Trump International Hotel to shout chants. A large police presence flanked the protesters as they marched uptown.
An NYPD spokesperson said police were “aware” of the protest, but would not say how many officers were deployed to watch over the demonstration.
Outside of NBC Studios at Rockefeller Plaza protesters shouted, “Every time the media lies, a neighborhood in Gaza dies!” At the Trump International Hotel, by Columbus Circle, they yelled, “Donald Trump you cant hide! You support genocide!” One person carried a sign reading, “Abolish Israel.”
Within Our Lifetime posted on X around 9 p.m. that the rally had ended with a vigil for Al Jazeera journalists Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, who were killed in a targeted bombing attack by Israeli forces earlier this week. The Israeli military has claimed that Al-Sharif was a member of Hamas’ military wing — which Al Jazeera disputes — as justification for the killing.
A video posted by Within Our Lifetime on social media after the demonstration showed graffiti in Carl Schurz Park reading, “Long live Anas,” “Glory to our Martyrs” and “Death to IDF.”
There were no arrests, police said.
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