New York City was abuzz with excitement on Thursday as crowds gathered for the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Families and tourists packed the sidewalks, braving the cold weather to witness the beloved tradition. However, the festivities were abruptly interrupted when a group of anti-Israel protestors disrupted the parade, bringing it to a temporary halt.
The disruption occurred around 11 a.m. when a group of protestors wearing white jumpsuits with inflammatory slogans such as “colonialism” and “ethnic cleansing” marched down 6th Avenue. They were carrying a large sign that read “Liberation for Palestine and Planet” and chanting anti-Israel slogans, including “Free Palestine! From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
The rowdy group then proceeded to pour fake blood over themselves and lay down on the ground, pretending to be dead. Some of the protestors even super-glued their hands to the asphalt, making it difficult for the police to move them. As the NYPD worked to remove the protestors, the crowd booed in disappointment.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have glued their hands to 6th Avenue, disrupting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; floats, bands and balloons are being diverted. pic.twitter.com/nYKLGyev87
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) November 23, 2023
Several parade attendees, including visitors from out of town and local politicians, expressed their frustration and anger at the disruption. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz called it “sick” and condemned the protestors for being “pro-Hamas and anti-Jew.” Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the executive vice chairman of the NY Board of Rabbis, also spoke out against the demonstration, noting that the protestors never seem to condemn Hamas and instead fault the victims.
Despite the disturbance, many parade-goers still managed to enjoy the festivities. College students Courtney King and Sydney Francis, who had traveled all the way from Florida to see the parade, were determined not to let the protest ruin their experience. They, along with thousands of others, braved the cold weather to witness the iconic parade in person.
My family member sent me this video taken from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The crowd reacted to the disruptive protestors with boos and chants of “USA! USA! USA!”
Americans won’t tolerate hatred and extremism that goes against our values. pic.twitter.com/qFgbpDnN2m
— Sarah Raviani (@sarahraviani) November 23, 2023
However, the protestors didn’t stop there. After the parade ended, around 400 more demonstrators gathered at Madison Square Park and marched towards Macy’s in Herald Square, shouting slogans and carrying signs with anti-Israel and anti-American messages. They also defaced the New York Public Library, leaving handprints in red paint and spray painting messages calling for the abolishment of the “settler state” of Israel.
Despite the protest and the disruption it caused, most spectators remained in high spirits and continued to celebrate the holiday. Marc Latham, a visitor from Delaware, joked that he had seen “three parades” – referencing the balloons, the protestors, and the protesters’ march towards Macy’s.
