Grand Central Terminal in New York City was closed temporarily on Friday evening as hundreds of Pro-Palestinian protesters organized a sit-in during the rush hour, disrupting normal operations. The demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), aimed at calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war using civil disobedience tactics.
In the wake of the announcement that Israel Defense Forces intended to escalate their ground operations in the Gaza Strip, the sit-in at Grand Central Terminal attracted attention online, with JVP’s tweet calling for a ceasefire garnering thousands of retweets and replies.
Demonstrators wore black shirts with “Jews say ceasefire now” imprinted on them and raised slogans like “No more weapons. No more war. Ceasefire is what we’re calling for.” Images shared on social media showed the concourse of the station flooded with protesters.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) was compelled to shut down the terminal due to the demonstration taking place, causing inconvenience to commuters. The MTA instructed customers to travel to Harlem-125th St for Metro-North service to points north.
Police ultimately intervened and made arrests as the demonstration grew, causing further disruptions. The NYPD was seen on social media footage taking away lines of demonstrators.
After the situation was brought under control, the Grand Central Terminal reopened for ticketed customers only. The MTA made alternate arrangements and informed customers that they could enter and exit using the entrance at 105 E 42nd Street for the remainder of the evening.
The demonstration comes after a similar event on Oct. 18, when JVP staged a protest at the Capitol building in Washington.
The protests have been sparked by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 7,000 people have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli strikes, while in Israel, more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the conflict. The violent clashes have attracted widespread attention and condemnation across the globe.
The demonstration at Grand Central Terminal is just one of the many in a series of protests organized by JVP as part of their efforts to highlight the devastating consequences of the war between Israel and Hamas.
As tensions continue to escalate in the region, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. The protests in major cities across the US are indicative of the mounting pressure on political leaders and international organizations to address the situation and bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
