Anti-Israel protesters gathered in Manhattan on Friday night to disrupt President Joe Biden’s big-money fundraiser held at the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th Street. The event, attended by over 640 donors, saw tickets range from $250 for balcony seats to up to $500,000 for a table.
As the protesters marched from Madison Square Garden towards the Hammerstein Ballroom, they clashed with police in riot gear and set off smoke bombs, leading to dozens of arrests. At least 32 demonstrators were taken into custody as the mob of masked individuals traded shoves with the police officers on the corner of West 34th Street and Eighth Avenue, less than a block from the venue.
The anti-Israel activist group Within Our Lifetime organized the protest, with participants chanting slogans like “Clear the block” and “There is only one solution — Intifada revolution!” The demonstrators also briefly stormed the lobby of the James A. Farley Building on Eighth Avenue, attempting to climb a flight of stairs inside before returning to the street.
Inside the Hammerstein Ballroom, President Biden addressed supporters, insisting he is up to the task of running the country for a second term and emphasizing that “the stakes are too high” with his Republican opponent Donald Trump posing as a genuine threat to the nation.
The fundraiser and protests occurred just one day after Biden’s widely criticized performance in the first presidential debate with Trump. The New York Times Editorial Board even called for him to bow out of the presidential race due to his obvious aging.
The President arrived in New York on Friday for what is expected to be a major, two-day fundraising haul. Earlier in the day, he joined rock icon Elton John and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Greenwich Village to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots.
On Saturday, Biden is expected to travel to the sprawling East Hampton estate owned by hedge fund manager Barry Rosenstein for a major, star-studded fundraiser with celebrity couples such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, as well as Clinton allies Nicole and Michael Fox, among others. Ticket prices ranged from $3,300 for basic admission to $100,000 for a “co-host” ticket that includes a photo with the president.
