US News
Published
May 6, 2024
Updated May 6, 2024, 10:18 p.m. ET
Protesters Deface War Memorial and Burn American Flag in Central Park
During a recent demonstration in Central Park, anti-Israel protesters vandalized a World War I memorial and set fire to an American flag after being prevented by law enforcement from reaching the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the Met Gala was taking place.
One individual burned the American flag at the 107th Infantry Memorial, which was also defaced with graffiti that read “Gaza” in bold black letters.
Additionally, protesters covered the memorial’s bronze soldiers with stickers depicting the Palestinian flag and messages advocating for the end of genocide and apartheid in Palestine.
Some demonstrators climbed onto the statue and displayed Palestinian flags, further escalating the situation.
Chaos Erupts in Central Park
The chaotic scene near Fifth Avenue and East 67th unfolded without police presence, as law enforcement was concentrated near the Met Gala to prevent any disruptions to the event.
Another monument, the Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman statue in Grand Army Plaza, was also targeted by vandals, with “Free Gaza” graffiti and a Palestinian flag attached to it.
Earlier in the evening, a group of anti-Israel protesters was arrested near Madison Ave and East 83rd Street as they marched towards the Met Gala, causing traffic disruptions along Fifth Avenue.
The protesters, part of a “Day of Rage” organized by the group Within Our Lifetime, were halted by police at the East 79th Street Transverse in Central Park, chanting slogans and displaying Palestinian flags.
Confrontation and Arrests
The confrontations between protesters and law enforcement underscored the tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides expressing their grievances through public demonstrations.
As the situation continues to evolve, it remains crucial for authorities to maintain order and ensure the safety of all individuals involved in such protests.
Protesters Foiled in Their Attempt to Reach Met Gala
Despite their anticipation of targeting the glitzy Met Gala event, demonstrators faced obstacles in reaching the iconic art museum.
Police successfully redirected the crowd into Central Park, causing confusion and a standstill among the protesters.
One officer was overheard expressing the futility of the situation, stating, “There’s nowhere for them to go.”
Police Blockade Thwarts Protesters’ Progress
As the protesters exited the park and came within sight of the Met, a blockade of police officers, standing two deep, prevented them from advancing northward.
Disappointed by the obstruction, one protester lamented, “Oh no, we were so close.”
Efforts to approach the museum by turning onto East 81st Street were also met with police barricades at the intersection with Madison Avenue.
Subsequently, police confronted the protesters three blocks uptown, resulting in around two dozen arrests. Tensions escalated as officers tackled individuals, and a water bottle was thrown at them.
Clashes Over Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestine Sentiments
Earlier in the evening, pro-Israel supporters clashed with individuals at Hunter College, accusing them of “supporting terrorism.”
“A 17-year-old Jewish Upper East Sider, Elena Bakhchi, criticized the opposing group, labeling them as ignorant and uneducated, drawing parallels to World War II.
Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 pro-Israel demonstrators gathered in Riverside Park to show solidarity with Jewish students, coinciding with Yom HaShoah, the day of Holocaust remembrance.
Antisemitism Concerns and Calls for Action
During the rally, Jewish Columbia students raised concerns about the rise in antisemitism on their campus, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and prevention.
Columbia sophomore Elisha Baker highlighted the need to combat antisemitism in society, urging action to prevent its normalization.
Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, condemned anti-Israel protests, likening them to “modern-day Nazis” and calling for decisive measures against antisemitism.
Erdan criticized the hypocrisy of protests, pointing out the lack of similar actions against other global atrocities.
He urged Jews worldwide to take a stand against antisemitism, emphasizing the significance of the “Never Again” mantra.
As Yom HaShoah holds historic importance, Erdan stressed the need for immediate action to combat antisemitism.
Pro-Palestinian Protesters March Towards Met Gala
Recently, a group of over 1000 pro-Palestinian protesters made their way towards the prestigious Met Gala event, showcasing their solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause.
Passionate Demonstration
The protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans, marched peacefully towards the venue, drawing attention to the ongoing conflict in the region and calling for justice and peace.
Global Attention
This demonstration has garnered global attention, with many people expressing their support for the protesters' cause and highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the situation in Palestine.
Impactful Presence
The presence of the protesters at such a high-profile event like the Met Gala has sparked conversations about the intersection of art, culture, and activism, showcasing the power of peaceful protest in advocating for social change.
Continued Advocacy
As the protesters continue to advocate for the rights of Palestinians, their actions serve as a reminder of the importance of standing up for justice and equality, even in the face of adversity.
Future Initiatives
Looking ahead, the impact of this demonstration is expected to inspire further initiatives and movements aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and promoting a peaceful resolution for all parties involved.
Support and Solidarity
Ultimately, the solidarity shown by the pro-Palestinian protesters at the Met Gala sends a powerful message of support to those affected by the conflict and reinforces the importance of unity in the pursuit of a just and equitable world.
Stay Informed
For more updates on this developing story and to learn about upcoming events and initiatives, visit NY Post.
Related
Seocho-gu Middle School Meal Controversy: Why Are Students Served Soup, Rice, and Ice Cream?
This is a photo of a meal served recently at a middle school in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
The dish only contains soup, white rice and stir-fried ice cream.
If you look at the student’s plate in front of you, it’s the same, except more packed drinks are provided.
Recently, a post with a photo like this was posted at a mom cafe in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
The author said, “Today’s lunch in a certain middle school,” and expressed his anger by asking, “There are only two side dishes. How long do we have to wait for the situation to resolve?”
In fact, according to the middle school, the menu offered that day consisted of rice, tofu and kimchi stew, stir-fried vegetables, dried kimchi and a lactic acid bacteria drink.
In the case of kimchi, it is assumed that the students who took the photo did not receive the kimchi.
Some netizens left comments like, “Even prison food would be better than that” or “I was shocked to hear that my husband doesn’t get food like that even in the army.”
This situation is said to have occurred due to a severe shortage of cooks in the middle school.
It is known that only two cooks are responsible for providing meals to the school’s more than 1,000 students.
A parent posted a complaint on the Seocho-gu Office website complaining: “As of March, we have been informed by the school that a reduced number of side dishes will be provided due to the shortage of cooks” and that “the children are not I am able to eat an adequate meal every day.”
In response, the mayor of Seocho-gu commented directly, saying: “Although the management and operation of school meals is a matter decided by the school principal, the district office is deeply sympathetic to the complaints and has also asked for related information to school meals,” adding: “As of May, the number of side dishes has been increased to four.” “I got a response saying it had been done,” he said.
He added: “We have recommended a rapid increase in the number of cooks to the Gangnam Seocho Education Bureau, which is the relevant agency, and the school has also confirmed that it is currently advertising for recruitment.”
The May meal plan has not yet been published on the school website.
#chefs #feed #people #Mom #Café #Seochogu #Middle #School #opens
Related
Seocho-gu Middle School Meal Controversy: Why Are Students Served Soup, Rice, and Ice Cream?
Living on a miracle: humanitarian outcry in Chocó
Julio César Uribe Hermocillo
By Julio César Uribe Hermocillo. Taken from El Guarengue.
“The miracle of the survival of blacks and Indians in this jungle has been brought about by the jungle itself. One can be sure that, if instincts had led the blacks astray, leading them to lands that offered less abundance of livelihoods, the institutional genocide programmed against this nation would have led to the extermination of their race.
Carlos Arturo Caicedo Licona. El Chocó inside, 1980.[1]
41,297 people from 106 rural communities (41% Afro-Chocó, 59% indigenous) in the Baudó, San Juan and Pacific subregions, in the department of Chocó, have been victims of 82 acts of armed violence in the period of the first three months of the year 2024, including 47 homicides, 34 of which occurred in Quibdó; according to data compiled and published by the Chocó Interethnic Solidarity Forum (FISCH), a social and ethnic platform that brings together most of the organizations of black people and indigenous communities in the region.
The FISCH quarterly report, “Chocó Alert. “Balance report of the humanitarian crisis in the department of Chocó in the first quarter of 2024”[2], published on April 28, reports that 35,752 people have been victims of confinement during the period; due to the presence of armed actors, anti-personnel mines, restrictions on mobility and clashes between groups, in 30.9% of cases; and 69.1% due to the so-called “armed strikes”.
Secluded, banished, confined to their own homes and towns, in their own collectively owned territories, during a good part of the months of January, February and March, to the black and indigenous communities of Chocó, in the subregions of San Juan (79 .2% of confinement cases), Pacífico (14.8%) and Baudó (5.6%), have been prevented from normally developing the multiple activities of their productive systems, which require going to the farms in the mountains every day, to cultivate and cultivate, harvest timber and fruit trees, and collect medicinal, food and seasoning plants. Likewise, the warlords have made it impossible to periodically resort to hunting reserves and fishing grounds, to procure food and other natural goods that the jungle lavishes in its natural cycles on its customary inhabitants, who for hundreds of years, Wisely, they have structured systems that provide them with sustenance throughout the year, in the forests and shores, in the rivers and in the seas, in the deltas and mangroves, which are part of their life and are the foundation of it.
So, when an armed group prevents the normal development of these productive activities, what it is impeding is the course of life, its reproduction, its development, its maintenance, the well-being of the people… Forcibly confined, these 35,752 Men and women, indigenous and black, of all ages, on more than one occasion, have only been able to leave to move, also forcedly, furtively, with fear on their backs, to municipal capitals and larger population centers. In 16 communities in the Chocó subregions of San Juan, Baudó and the Pacific, 4,889 people have been victims of forced displacement between January and March 2024, due to clashes, threats and armed incursions by irregular groups.
Two days after the FISCH report on such a painful humanitarian situation in Chocó, the DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics) informed the country that “in March 2024, the unemployment rate in the national total was 11.3% and in the total 13 cities and metropolitan areas was 10.8%”[3]; while the unemployment rate in Quibdó was 29.7%; with a proportion of informality of 57% in the city’s employed population.[4]
This is a flagrant violation of each and every one of the human rights, the economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, and the rights of the people, of the people of Chocó. A violation that in a social State of Law should not occur, should not be allowed.
[1]
[2] All data included is sourced from this FISCH infographic, published on their X account.
[3]
[4] pp. 29 and 39.
The post Living by miracle: humanitarian clamor in Chocó appeared first on Chocó7días.com.
Related