Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators shut down New York's Grand Central Station on Friday night, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The protest, which began at Columbus Circle around 5pm, saw marchers carry banners reading 'Free Palestine' and 'End the genocide' as they moved through Midtown Manhattan, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The crowd then surrounded the New York Times building near Times Square, smearing the entrance with fake red paint to resemble blood, before heading to Grand Central Terminal. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro-North Railroad said on X that access to the main terminal was blocked and trains were diverted.
Footage on social media showed protesters banging on the station's doors as police stood guard inside. The New York Police Department reported that six people were arrested for disorderly conduct, but described the demonstration as largely peaceful. An estimated 2,000 people took part, with most leaving by 10pm, though a heavy police presence remained.
The protest was the latest in a series of almost daily demonstrations in New York against Israel's war with Hamas, which has killed more than 11,000 people in Gaza. The conflict began after Hamas attacks on 7 October killed about 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds hostage.
Other recent actions include a brief occupation of the New York Times lobby on Thursday by media workers calling themselves 'Writers Bloc', who distributed mock editions titled 'The New York War Crimes'. On 7 November, activists from Jewish Voice for Peace took over the Statue of Liberty, while in London, 82 far-right protesters were arrested during clashes with police and pro-Palestine demonstrators on 11 November.
