On October 7, a significant pro-Palestinian march unfolded in Manhattan, marking the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Given that New York hosts one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel, the ramifications of the situation in the Middle East have been particularly felt here. Over the weekend, from October 6 to 7, New Yorkers experienced a wave of protests and memorials as pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups clashed in a battle for attention. Both New York and New Jersey also honored the victims of the ongoing conflict by lowering flags to half-staff.

The main pro-Palestinian demonstration kicked off at 1 PM, beginning near Wall Street. The march traversed iconic locations such as City Hall, Washington Square Park, Union Square, Grand Central Station, Times Square, and Columbus Circle, ultimately arriving near Central Park.

Marchers showcased a massive Palestinian flag that nearly stretched across the typically narrow streets of Manhattan. The sheer volume of participants led police to temporarily close off certain streets, creating significant traffic delays. Among the crowd, there were some ultra-Orthodox Jews expressing anti-Israel views, contrasted by a small group of pro-Israel supporters wrapped in Israeli flags. At the start of the march, participation hovered around 2,000.

That evening, a candlelight vigil in Central Park organized by Jewish groups paid tribute to Israeli civilians killed in the Hamas attacks and remembered those who remain hostage. Several officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, were present.

Columbia University also witnessed protests and memorials from the morning of October 7, following a rise in pro-Palestinian sentiment among students earlier in the spring. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups found themselves on opposite ends of campus, with some students responding to a pro-Palestinian walkout. As the afternoon progressed, many students made their way to Central Park. At the City University of New York (CUNY), reports emerged of protesters vandalizing buildings with red paint.

On that same day, Hamas launched a surprise attack on music festivals and villages in areas controlled by Israel, resulting in the abduction of hundreds and the deaths of 1,200 Israeli civilians. In retaliation, the Israeli military initiated a prolonged siege of Gaza, which has since led to over 40,000 Palestinian casualties.

Some left-leaning Chinese student organizations have characterized Israel’s presence as a form of colonialism, asserting that armed resistance is an essential part of “decolonization.” They stated, “Resistance movements require neither legality nor acknowledgment from us or you.” On the other hand, Governor Hochul, a staunch ally of New York’s Jewish community, expressed her concerns about the increasing anger and hatred on university campuses, stating, “This is something we should not be witnessing.” She pointed out that the slogan often used by pro-Palestinian groups, “From the river to the sea,” implies an intent to eliminate Jews. Hochul emphasized that if discriminatory behavior persists on college campuses, “the state will intervene.”