Anti-Israel and pro-Israel demonstrators shoved and spat at each other outside a Parsons Benefit celebration in lower Manhattan on Tuesday. Gorgeous guests avoided the madness by tiptoeing into the university’s annual event.
Shortly after an anti-Israel crowd set up a picket line demanding the Parsons School of Art to divest from Israel-supporting businesses, protesters faced off outside Cipriani Wall Street around 6:30 p.m.
Several members of each group ran toward each other and engaged in minor shoving in the street, but New York City police intervened before the situation escalated.
Well-dressed partygoers were seen weaving through the chaos to reach police barriers set up to prevent groups from entering the 75th annual benefit. Individual tickets cost $2,500.
On a street corner, a man wearing a keffiyeh was seen shouting at two counter-protesters and threatening violence against all sides.
“So what are you going to do about it?” said the man wearing the keffiyeh.
“If you’re worried about cameras, just turn around the corner,” a counter-protester replied.
At that moment, a second man stepped forward and waved his finger in the anti-Israel demonstrator’s face.
The man wearing the keffiyeh spits in the face of the advancing man, who quickly returns the favor.
A fellow anti-Israel demonstrator, whose face was hidden behind a mask and sunglasses, shoved the man who spat on him from the group.
“I’m going to beat the hell out of you,” said one pro-Israel man.
At least two people were arrested in the riot, but it was unclear whether they were charged or issued citations.
A woman was seen being handcuffed by police after shoving a spitting pro-Israel protester.
