Police clashed with a large number of pro-Palestinian protesters in New York City during a tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center.
The New York City Police Department confirmed to the Washington Examiner that they were aware of multiple protests in the city and that Wednesday was a planned day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, but the department had no further information.
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The protest ballooned to well over 1,000 people, according to several reporters at the scene, leading to a heavier police response. Videos posted on social media showed police using pepper spray and arresting protesters.
Chaos breaks out as police move in to make an arrest. Police have deployed pepper spray pic.twitter.com/kkK7F2imYn
— Liam Quigley (@_elkue) November 30, 2023
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Many of the police trying to contain the crowd were in standard gear rather than riot gear, indicating that they weren't prepared for the size or nature of the protest.
#BREAKING Heavy Clashes and Arrests as NYPD takes down Pro-Palestine protesters outside of Fox News Christmas Tree, just a block away from Rockefeller Plaza during "Flood Tree Lighting for Gaza" Protest.
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) November 30, 2023
Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/rY10Ktv06s
Protest outside Rockefeller Center tree lighting had calmed for a little but then escalated suddenly. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/SUghxgspDg
— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) November 30, 2023