A group of protesters in New York City draped a Palestinian flag around a war memorial while burning an American flag, as seen in a video posted on social media. The incident took place at the 107th Infantry War Soldier Memorial at the intersection of East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue. The protesters were heard chanting “Free, free, Palestine” as the American flag burned on the ground.
The words “Gaza” and “Free Palestine” were also written at the base of the memorial statue. This incident occurred as security was increased around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in anticipation of the Met Gala. Pro-Palestinian protesters were seen marching outside the Met Gala and some even removed police barricades.
According to reports, earlier in the evening, about two dozen protesters were arrested near Madison Ave and East 83rd Street as a large group marched from Hunter College towards the Met Gala. The crowd blocked traffic on Fifth Avenue before being stopped by police at the East 79th Street Transverse in Central Park.