Cops clash with anti-Israel protesters outside NYC synagogue where Israeli minister was set to speak before event canceled
Anti-Israel protesters Sunday clashed with cops outside a Brooklyn synagogue where Israel's embattled security minister was set to speak — with the speech ending up canceled and at least one arrest.
The protest outside Congregation Shaare ZIon on Ocean Parkway turned violent shortly after 9:30 a.m. as NYPD officers and some members of the crowd scuffled while the rowdy mob demonstrated against Sunday's scheduled speech by Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The speech was nixed, and the under-fire minister is now set to return home a day early, the Israeli outlet Haaretz reported.
The violent clash came two days after anti-Israel demonstrators and Hasidic Jews scuffled outside the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where Ben-Gvir made an appearance. Police said at least a half-dozen people were arrested at that protest.
Last week, protesters also hurled water bottles at Ben-Gvir after an event near Yale University's campus.
Photos from Sunday's scene in Brooklyn showed cops taking some protesters into custody, including one who was wrestling with police on the ground — as counter-protesters confronted the demonstrators.
Video posted by Freedom News TV captured an angry exchange between the two sides.
A rep for the NYPD said police were called to the scene at 9:43 a.m. and confirmed that there was at least one arrest.
Jennifer Hansen, 33, of Brooklyn, was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and three counts of disorderly conduct during the protest, police said.
Hansen has at least one prior arrest at anti-Israeli demonstrations in the Big Apple, when she was among 60 protesters locked up in Midtown Manhattan in October 2023, one week after a sneak raid on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
In that incident, Hansen was charged with resisting arrest, obstruction, assault and disorderly conduct, police said.
No other arrests were immediately reported at Sunday's protest.
The protest was scheduled by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation of New York and New Jersey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Unwelcome at Kennedy Center, LGBTQ+ orchestra defiantly plays in Maryland
By Daniel Trotta and Alexandra C. Sarabia NORTH BETHESDA, Maryland (Reuters) - The program contained American favorites: pieces by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin and a choral performance of "America the Beautiful" to celebrate WorldPride, a biennial international festival in support of LGBTQ+ rights that this year is taking place in Washington. The International Pride Orchestra had hoped to play at the Kennedy Center, the most prestigious venue in the United States, but that was before U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on social media that there would be "NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA" at the public-private performing arts center. Instead, the orchestra took to the stage at the Strathmore Music Center in Maryland, just north of the capital, with sequin-clad drag queen Peaches Christ as host, and another drag queen, Thorgy Thor, playing a violin solo to Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" to an audience of 1,166 people. WorldPride events are taking place during a Trump administration that has issued executive orders limiting transgender rights, banned transgender people from serving in the armed forces, and rescinded anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ+ people as part of a campaign to repeal diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Michael Roest, conductor and founder of the International Pride Orchestra, a nonprofit, reminded the audience that "people don't feel safe to live and love openly." "That is the reason why we have this orchestra," Roest said. The evening offered messages about equality and patriotic ideals as expressed in "America the Beautiful," sung by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, which accompanied the orchestra in the second half of the show. A transgender pianist, Sara Davis Buechner, dazzled with her grand piano lead on "Rhapsody in Blue." U.S. and rainbow flags were hoisted at the close. Within weeks of taking office, Trump in February fired the leadership of the Kennedy Center and named himself chairman, complaining about what he said was the poor quality of performances. On February 10, he announced on social media that loyalist Richard Grenell would become interim director of the center and made the "NO MORE DRAG SHOWS" post. Two days later, the Kennedy Center sent Roest a message that said, "We are not in a position at this time to advance a contract," according to an email chain seen by Reuters. That message came after months of negotiations over securing the Kennedy Center, orchestra spokesperson David Perry said. Considering themselves "disinvited," event organizers began looking for alternative venues and the Strathmore offered its space, Perry said. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, which is leading the coordination of WorldPride, explained the move by saying, "We would not be allowed to have any official drag programming." "That defeats the purpose of Pride - in terms of creating a welcoming and safe environment for anybody to feel comfortable being their true, authentic self, which is what Pride's about," Bos said in comments to The Advocate, a magazine reporting LGBT+ news, that were confirmed by the alliance. Asked for a response, a Kennedy Center spokesperson referred Reuters to Bos' remarks and an X post by Grenell saying, "We didn't cancel a single show at the Kennedy Center. We simply ask that shows don't lose money and leave us with the bill." The three-year-old orchestra was created to give LGBTQ+ musicians an avenue to perform free of concerns about their sexual orientation or gender identity. "This performance is in and of itself a form of resistance," said Luke Spence, the orchestra's general manager and also a trumpet player. Jennifer Curtis, a violinist and concert master, welcomed the spotlight that came with the dispute. "That's what you want in the time of struggle, or if you're needing to make a statement," Curtis said. "We got extra publicity out of being at the butt end of Trump."
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lebanese army warns Israeli airstrikes might force it to freeze cooperation with ceasefire committee
BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese army condemned Friday Israel's airstrikes on suburbs of Beirut, warning that such attacks are weakening the role of Lebanon's armed forces that might eventually suspend cooperation with the committee monitoring the truce that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. The army statement came hours after the Israeli military struck several buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs that it said held underground facilities used by Hezbollah for drone production. The strikes, preceded by an Israeli warning to evacuate several buildings, came on the eve of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday. The Lebanese army said it started coordinating with the committee observing the ceasefire after Israel's military issued its warning and sent patrols to the areas that were to be struck to search them. It added that Israel rejected the suggestion. The U.S.-led committee that has been supervising the ceasefire that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war in November is made up of Lebanon, Israel, France, the U.S. and the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon known as UNIFIL. 'The Israeli enemy violations of the deal and its refusal to respond to the committee is weakening the role of the committee and the army,' the Lebanese army said in its statement. It added such attacks by Israel could lead the army to freeze its cooperation with the committee 'when it comes to searching posts.' Since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended, Israel has carried out nearly daily airstrikes on parts of Lebanon targeting Hezbollah operatives. Beirut's southern suburbs were struck on several occasions since then. The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began on Oct. 8, 2023, when the Lebanese militant group began launching rockets across the border in support of its ally, Hamas, in Gaza. Israel responded with airstrikes and shelling and the two were quickly locked in a low-level conflict that continued for nearly a year before escalating into full-scale war in September 2024. It killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, while the Lebanese government said in April that Israeli strikes had killed another 190 people and wounded 485 since the ceasefire agreement. There has been increasing pressure on Hezbollah, both domestic and international, to give up its remaining arsenal, but officials with the group have said they will not do so until Israel stops its airstrikes and withdraws from five points it is still occupying along the border in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah says that it has ended its military presence along the border with Israel south of the Litani River, in accordance with terms of the ceasefire deal.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Musk vs. Trump, and a Surge in Whooping Cough
Hosted by Tracy Mumford Produced by Will Jarvis and Ian Stewart Edited by Ian Stewart and Tracy Mumford Featuring Tyler Pager and Teddy Rosenbluth Trump and Musk's Unlikely Alliance Breaks Down in Rapid and Public Fashion, by Tyler Pager and Theodore Schleifer After Trump and Xi Speak, U.S. and China Agree to Revive Trade Talks, by Ana Swanson and David Pierson Israel Armed Palestinian Militia to Fight Hamas, Officials Say, by Aaron Boxerman and Patrick Kingsley Whooping Cough Is Surging. Do You Need Another Shot?, by Teddy Rosenbluth Land Snorkeling? Townsizing? A User's Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo., by Elaine Glusac Tune in, and tell us what you think at theheadlines@ For corrections, email nytnews@ For more audio journalism and storytelling, download the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
