More than 1,000 protesters advocating for Palestine clashed with the NYPD in close proximity to New York’s Met Gala on Monday evening.
The demonstrators, who had marched from Hunter College located a mile away, were met with a prompt response from the NYPD, who had prepared for the possibility of their presence near the star-studded event. Amid the clash, numerous protesters were arrested along Madison Avenue as the police worked to prevent any spillover onto neighboring Fifth Avenue, where the Met Gala was underway.
Initially successful in redirecting the protesters away from the Gala venue, the police managed to guide the majority of demonstrators down Park Avenue several blocks away. However, the situation escalated when some protesters breached metal barriers and proceeded to march down Fifth Avenue.
Protesters were visibly engaged in various forms of demonstration, holding placards, banging drums, waving flags, and chanting ‘free, free Palestine!’ Some protesters also ignited flares and released red and green smoke, symbolizing the colors of the Palestinian flag.
The protests, officially designated as part of a ‘Day Of Rage For Gaza: From The Encampments To The Streets,’ commenced earlier in the afternoon at Columbia University and NYU downtown. The two groups eventually converged near the location of the Gala.
The protesters congregated at CUNY Hunter College at 5 pm, situated just a mile away from the Met Gala, a brief 20-minute walk uptown from the college. Following confrontations with law enforcement, the demonstrators proceeded to march along Park Avenue, obstructing the southbound lanes. An individual protestor was swiftly apprehended and placed under arrest even before the event officially began.
Uniformed officers patrolled the streets equipped with numerous plastic zip-ties in anticipation of any additional protesters seeking to disrupt the proceedings. The NYPD had previously indicated thorough preparedness, assuring the public of an ‘adequate security deployment.’
Sources within the NYPD disclosed plans for a heightened security presence at the Met Gala, including both plainclothes officers stationed inside and outside the museum along Fifth Avenue at the renowned Upper East Side location. Mayor Eric Adams, in collaboration with law enforcement, highlighted the involvement of ‘outside agitators’ in the recent demonstrations that had disrupted college campuses throughout the city in the preceding weeks.
Demonstrators advocating for Gaza have demonstrated a willingness to disrupt prominent events in the city, such as the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and last year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting.
The Met Gala, known for attracting luminaries from various fields including film, fashion, music, sports, politics, and social media, has become a focal point for protests. Campus protests nationwide were sparked at Columbia University in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Columbia University announced the cancellation of its university-wide commencement ceremony scheduled for May 15. ‘Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families,’ the university said Monday. ‘As a result, we will focus our resources on those school ceremonies and on keeping them safe, respectful, and running smoothly.’
Recently, the New York Police Department intervened at Columbia University with riot gear to dismantle a tent encampment and regain control of Hamilton Hall from student occupiers.
Reports from CNN indicate that over 100 individuals were arrested during the incident at the university. Law enforcement authorities stated that there were no reported injuries or instances of resistance during the arrests.
