Pro-Palestinian protesters march throughout Lower Manhattan on Oct. 7 anniversary
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Large groups of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the streets of Manhattan Monday night, while a vigil to remember those killed and missing in last year's Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 was held in Central Park.
Several arrests were made during protests in New York coinciding with the October 7 anniversary, the NYPD said.
Protesters marched throughout Lower Manhattan from Wall Street to City Hall, Washington Square to Union Square and also marched through Times Square and Grand Central before gathering at Madison Square Park.
Simmering anger got added to the mix from the start when counter-demonstrators showed up on Wall Street -- leading to confrontation and hostility. There, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters unfurled a massive Palestinian flag in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
"It's important for us to also not be scared of coming out here today just because they don't want us to, if it was up to the other side we would never be allowed to protest at all," said protest organizer Nerdeen Kiswani.
However they came face-to-face with pro-Israel protesters.
"I live right here, my kids go to school a block right here, i's horrible. We're Israeli and it just feels very unsafe," a pro-Israel protester named Paul said. "I may sound confident to you but I'm shaking. I can't believe this is my city, this happening."
The large crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters made their way to Union Square Park Monday evening and appeared to grow in numbers before heading north.
The protest halted briefly at Bryant Park at the New York Public Library then split off with some heading to Moynihan Train Hall.
Hundreds of demonstrators then gathered in Madison Square Park, determined to shift the focus from a day of solemn remembrance to a day of outrage.
"Why is this the day that everyone came here to protest? This is the day that-the result of this day-led to genocide, led to starvation and led to destruction," said pro-Palestinian demonstrator Fahad Kiani. "We have protested peacefully. There have not been incidents of violence and, still, no one is listening to us."
In Central Park, a candle lighting ceremony with members of the Jewish community was held Monday night to remember those killed on Oct. 7 with music and prayer. The governor, the mayor, hostage families and others were all expected to attend.
NYPD officials kept both groups separate in what was largely a peaceful evening of protests and prayers.
It comes after smashed windows, red paint and graffiti including "divest now" was discovered spray-painted on the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center on the City College of New York campus in Hamilton Heights on Monday morning.
CUNY released a statement that said they condemned the "violent vandalism and hateful rhetoric that occurred on two of our campuses," and they said they will not hesitate to enforce disciplinary actions if any members of the CUNY community are found responsible.
Gov. Kathy Hochul responded to the vandalism incidents in a post on X, saying she's "outraged by incidents of vandalism on college campuses today."
"New York will not tolerate antisemitism or hate of any kind," she said.
The governor says there will be increased State Police presence at high profile locations throughout New York and has offered the NYPD and CUNY support to ensure all students are safe.
College campuses have long been the setting for protests and that was the case yet again at Columbia University where barricades kept groups apart.
Security was tight in the quad on Monday after last semester a mass encampment was set up which was followed by groups breaking into and occupying a building.
"The people have a right to protest but not a right to destroy our city and that is why we have an all hands on deck," Mayor Eric Adams said Monday morning. "I will be out here this morning, this evening to also be a part of making sure this city continues to move forward in the right direction."
ALSO READ: Israel marks 1 year since the October 7th Hamas attack
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