Around 400-500 protesters gathered at Union Square for “emergency action” organized by WOL Palestine (Within Our Lifetime) Thursday night. The demonstration came in response to the morning’s news that at least 112 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 injured after Israeli troops opened fire on civilians scrambling around aid trucks carrying flour southwest of Gaza City.

NYPD surrounded Union Square and appeared prepared for the crowd to take the same midtown route as they did the week prior. However, they were forced to improvise after WOL leaders guided the protest into the Subway station and declared they would take the downtown 4 and 5 train to Wall Street where NY Governor Kathy Hochul was scheduled to appear.

On Feb. 15, 2024, Hochul made a speech likening the Israeli military response following Oct. 7, to a hypothetical scenario of Canada invading America. A day later, Hochul decided this was an “inappropriate analogy,” issuing a public apology for her “poor choice of words.” 

Before leading protesters to the subway, WOL co-founder Neerden Kiswani condemned Israel and U.S. President Joe Biden to the crowd. 

“Israel must be stopped. Instead, ‘Genocide Joe’ is lapping up ice cream while he’s talking about the possibility of a ceasefire ahead of the Michigan vote. Over 100,000 people in Michigan voted uncommitted instead of voting for ‘Genocide Joe,’” Kiswani said. “There will be consequences for every single layer of leadership complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people, from N.Y. City Mayor Eric Adams to Governor Kathy Hochul to Genocide Joe and to the fascist NYPD who try to silence the movement.”

Kiswani also praised and honored Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman for the United States Air Force who died a week prior after declaring he would “no longer be complicit in genocide” and carrying out the act of self-immolation in front of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. as a live-streamed act of political protest.

“Aaron Bushnell died fighting for what is right; an active duty U.S. soldier set himself on fire while he screamed his last words: Free Palestine, Free Palestine, Free Palestine,” Kiswani said. 

As the trains arrived at the financial district, protesters spilled into the streets and began circling the venue of Hochul’s appearance, the Wall Street location of the Italian restaurant Cipriani. 

Approximately 50 NYPD officers donning riot gear roamed the scene’s parameters while others formed a barrier between the crowd and the upscale Italian restaurant/event space. 

“The assistant commissioner of the NYPD, Kaz Daughtry, came down to protect Kathy Hochul. We will tell them both: you can’t hide; you support genocide,” student activist Abdullah Akl said, rallying the protesters. 

The march continued through Wall Street and the financial district, where a few minor altercations and arrests turned into an aggressive clash on Cortland St. and Broadway at 8:40 pm. Around ten protesters were forcibly detained, some shoved to the ground by the NYPD before being handcuffed and shuttled off in a police van. 

Shortly after, protest organizers announced plans for the following action on Mar. 2, and the crowd dispersed.

Union Square 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

4/5 train going down to Wall Street 7 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.

Wall Street. 7:20 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Courtland and Broadway. 8:35 p.m. – 9 p.m.