Around 30 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested during Monday night’s protests on the Upper East Side, reports said.
The unrest involved acts of vandalism, including the burning of an American flag, as per reports.
The bronze sculpture, a memorial to the fallen members of the 107th infantry from World War I, was defaced with spray-painted messages like “Gaza” and “Free Palestine.”
This incident occurred just a short distance from where protests intersected with the Met Gala. NYPD confirmed 27 arrests as the pro-Palestinian protests traversed the Upper East Side.
Several planned demonstrations from Hunter College, Columbia University, and another group within the park aimed toward the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where some attempted to breach barricades, prompting police intervention.
Following this, some protesters redirected to 67th Street, where individuals vandalized the statue and one person was observed burning an American flag.
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the flag’s use in protests, emphasizing its significance as a national symbol. ‘’This is unfortunate, to say the least,’’ said the Mayor, adding the flag is significant because of its national symbolism.
Another nearby statue in Central Park’s Grand Army Plaza also faced vandalism that night, marking the dispersal of the protest.
Ongoing pro-Palestinian protests have swept across US universities, causing significant disruptions to academic activities. The demonstrations, sparked by the war in Gaza, have led to numerous arrests and confrontations with police. The unrest has not only disturbed education but also raised tensions between student demonstrators and university leadership.
