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NYPD thwarts pro-Hamas Times Square protests; JFK airport threatened with New Year’s Day antics

January 1, 2024 | | Print Article

It’s an American tradition.

Since 1904, revelers have gathered in Times Square on New Year’s Eve to watch the iconic ball drop.

But this year, in addition to hundreds of thousands of inebriated partiers, the NYPD had to prepare for pro-Palestinian party crashers.

“The full complement of our public safety apparatus will be on display,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised before the celebrations kicked off, according to The New York Times.

As predicted, a show of force was needed.

An anti-Israel mob took over Boston Common, chanting, “Biden, Biden pick a side: Ceasefire or genocide.”

“There will be no celebration while fireworks light up our sky and white phosphorous lights up theirs,” one speaker shouted. “There will be no celebration when in Times Square, the ball drops, but in Gaza the bombs drop. And most importantly, there will be no celebration until full liberation.”

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The protestors marched down “6th Avenue towards Times Square,” according to reports.

“New York City will reportedly be using robots, drones and bomb sniffing dogs to defend against potential pro-Palestinian threats during the New Years celebration,” Collin Rugg stated on X.


Citing Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, The Times noted, “In New York, the police will be monitoring an expanded area in Manhattan with canine units and officers on horseback. Helicopters and boats will be deployed. Drones will hover along the outer perimeter of the security zone to monitor potential protests in real time.”

“At least one group was spotted marching from 59th Street all the way down to 45th and 5th Avenue, just a block away from where the ball will drop at midnight,” the Daily Mail reported. “The marchers were singing the infamous ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ chant that has been decried as anti-Semitic by members of both parties in Congress, as well as the Anti-Defamation League.”

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A group made it inside Macy’s at Herald Square, where they set off a red smoke bomb before being escorted out of the building.

In the end, there were “TOO MANY COPS” for the protestors, who vowed to be “back on the streets tomorrow” to stir up more chaos at a “Flood JFK for Gaza” airport protest, according to journalist Jonathan Choe.

New York City Council Minority Whip Inna Vernikov warned that the planned airport protest will be “a NON peaceful riot.”

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“As we’re welcoming the New Year and as New Yorkers and people from all over the world are flying into JFK between today and tomorrow, pro-Hamas rioters are planning a ‘Flood for Gaza’ riot at JFK in which they’re intending to shut down the airport,” Vernikov said in a video posted to X. “These actions will prevent people from getting home, it will prevent people from making it to their flights on time, it will block the roadways, it will cause traffic, it will cause chaos.”

“God knows how many cops are going to be injured,” she said. “God knows if any civilians are going to be injured.”

“New Yorkers have had enough of this illegal and dangerous interruption of public life,” Vernikov stated. “These are not peaceful protests protected by the First Amendment, and it must end now!”

“Perpetrators must be arrested,” the councilwoman wrote, asking Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Adams, “What are the plans to stop this?”

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“It’s like there’s nobody home,” she said in the video.

The “Flood for Gaza” name “is NAMED AFTER HAMAS!” many on X exclaimed.

“Hamas calls the October 7th massacres ‘Operation Al Aqsa Flood,'” explained one user. “Pretty much impossible to claim that ‘Flood JFK for Gaza’ is anything other than supporting Hamas’ campaign of raping, murdering and beheading Jews — and Muslims & Christians. Vile.”

Melissa Fine
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