Protesters March from Harlem to Gaza in Support of Palestine

NEW YORK — A gathering of anti-Israel demonstrators took place at Columbia University on Thursday night. They marched from Harlem to Gaza, voicing their support for the Palestinian cause while making significant demands of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani.

This march marked the two-year anniversary of Columbia University and the City University of New York (CCNY) dismantling the Gaza Solidarity encampment, alongside a well-known occupation of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall.

During the occupation, a banner was displayed reading “Hall of Hind,” in memory of six-year-old Hind Rajab, who lost her life in Gaza amidst the conflict involving Israel and the Hamas group.

The gathering included students and supporters, many donning keffiyehs, which are often associated with the Palestinian movement. Interestingly, one protester was seen wearing a “freeze rent” button from Mamdani’s campaign, despite the group’s criticism towards him.

As protesters assembled outside the university gates, select individuals delivered speeches while encouraging others to step forward and share their thoughts. One speaker relayed a message from Ermina Agayeva, a student who had been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but was later released following discussions involving Mamdani and former President Donald Trump.

After finishing the speeches, the group proceeded along Amsterdam Avenue from 116th Street towards CCNY. New York City police, leading the march, attempted but failed to direct demonstrators from the street to the sidewalk.

Upon reaching City College, the protesters stood behind barricades erected by the NYPD, continuing their chants and speeches. Some demonstrators, after being escorted out by police earlier, began to mock the officers, shouting phrases like, “Oink, oink, pig, pig, we’ll make your life easier.” Another speaker labeled the police officers as “fucking pigs.”

Chants during the march included statements like, “We don’t want two states. We want 48 years,” and “Palestine is our demand. There will be no peace on stolen land.”

As the protest concluded, a new chant emerged: “We say it loud and clear: We support Hamas here,” although it quickly shifted to “We support the resistance here” after a brief interaction with a chant leader who seemed to focus on nearby media coverage.

One of the speakers outlined several demands directed at Mamdani, which included a request for CCNY to disclose all investments, specifically mentioning Israel and the Department of Homeland Security, and advocating for the cessation of what they termed the “illegal sale” of Palestinian land in New York City. They also called for the dismissal of Jessica Tisch and the disbandment of the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, and demanded property taxes on Columbia and New York University to support public education and the abolition of the CCNY Board of Directors.

The protesters emphasized how Mamdani had leveraged support for Palestine to win favor with New Yorkers but now needed to be held accountable for his promises. “Shame on you, Mamdani!” was one of the statements directed at the mayor.

Mamdani’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian issues attracted attention during his mayoral campaign. Notably, he faced backlash for his rejection of some phrases related to “globalizing the intifada,” which many interpreted as inciting violence against Jews.

Additionally, his associations with countercultural figures who criticize Israel also drew scrutiny.

As for the mayor’s actions since taking office, he still faces doubt from the Jewish community, although he has garnered backing from leftist supporters. However, calls for him to take stronger actions for the Palestinian cause have surfaced from some of those same supporters.

Fox News Digital reached out for comments to both Mamdani’s office and the NYPD but did not receive an immediate reply.