More than 200 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested Monday during a demonstration outside the New York Stock Exchange, where activists demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The New York Police Department confirmed that 206 arrests were made as demonstrators, many affiliated with groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, staged a sit-in near Wall Street in lower Manhattan. Protesters chanted slogans including “let Gaza live” and “stop funding genocide” in front of the exchange’s iconic building.
While no protesters breached the stock exchange itself, dozens crossed a police security fence erected outside the main building on Broad Street. The stock exchange has not yet commented on the incident.
Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the organizing groups, stated on social media platform X: “(Hundreds) of Jews and friends are shutting down the New York Stock Exchange to demand the U.S. stop arming Israel and profiting from genocide.” The group estimated that around 500 demonstrators participated in the event.
Protesters directed their anger at American defense contractors and weapons manufacturers. Some also chanted against Israeli military actions in Lebanon, where Israel says it is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
A small group of pro-Israel counter-protesters was also present, carrying Israeli flags.
The demonstration is the latest in a series of protests against U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 in Israel and took 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza have resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of most of the population, according to Gaza health officials. Israel denies allegations of genocide, stating that its actions target Hamas militants.
The protest highlights the ongoing tensions and divided public opinion surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict, as well as the role of U.S. foreign policy and military support in the region.
