The “Flood July 4th for Gaza” demonstration organized by radical anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime began at Washington Square Park and gradually made its way to Hudson Yards. At the same rally, footage captured a group burning an American flag inside Washington Square Park while keffiyeh-wearing photographers brought their lenses in close to capture the desecration. The flag was smoldering next to a poster depicting Trump and Biden wearing crowns beneath “DEATH TO ALL KINGS” in big block letters, evidently referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this week granting US presidents “absolute immunity” from prosecution from “official acts” during their time in office.
Cops arrested 37 people at the protest, including Othman Belhamdounia for allegedly snatching someone’s Israeli flag and Nicholas Cross for attempting to grab a flag that a 17-year-old boy was holding in his hand. Seven other people were arrested on charges including obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Twenty-eight people were given summonses.
As the group made their way through Greenwich Village, they chanted slogans such as “Over 40,000 dead, Democrats your hands are red,” and “Israel we know you, you imprison children too.” The protesters’ final stop was at West 28th Street and 11th Avenue.
The Within Our Lifetime X account posted a video of the protest, showing a horde of protesters gathered – with a Palestinian flag and a sign bearing the words “Stop Cop City Free Palestine” prominently displayed as fireworks light up the sky in the background. The caption continued, “Resisting ongoing repression from the NYPD today in order to disrupt the 4th of July, we are making clear that these are our streets.” The protesters’ chants included “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping!” and “Israel bombs, USA pays! How many kids did you kill today.
The NYPD did not have a record of an arrest in connection to the flag burning.
