The New York Police Department took 34 people into custody after responding to a pro-Palestinian protest in Brooklyn that led to reports of damaged artwork and staff harassment at the Brooklyn Museum. The protest was organized by Within Our Lifetime, a New York-based, Palestinian-led community organization, with the goal of pressuring the museum to disclose and divest from any investments linked to Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators started at the Barclays Center and arrived at the museum, occupying the public plaza in front of the building and entering the interior. Museum spokesperson Taylor Maatman reported that there was damage to artwork on the plaza and that some public safety staff were physically and verbally assaulted.
Videos shared with NBC News showed police trying to secure the museum against the crowd, and Within Our Lifetime claimed that their chair, Nerdeen Kiswani, was targeted and violently arrested. The museum ultimately closed an hour early out of concern for its building, collections, and staff. This protest is part of a series of pro-Palestinian actions that have taken place in New York and around the country over the past few months, including ones at Columbia University, New York University, and other colleges. At the University of California, Santa Cruz, at least 80 people were arrested after the university requested assistance to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment. These protests have led to over 3,000 arrests on U.S. college and university campuses alone.
Chancellor Cynthia Larive of the University of California, Santa Cruz, addressed the student body in a letter, explaining that the university attempted to avoid involving law enforcement but deemed the disruptions of the encampment to be harmful to the community. She acknowledged that many protesters are well-intentioned but emphasized that the university could not condone their unlawful actions. The students’ demands for the university to divest and boycott companies affiliated with Israel were already deemed unacceptable by the University of California’s Office of the President. The protests represent students’ efforts to make change through their spheres of influence but are facing resistance due to the unlawful nature of their actions.
This incident at the Brooklyn Museum is part of a larger wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have been occurring in New York and across the United States. The protests aim to draw attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine and advocate for justice and humanitarian rights for Palestinians. By targeting institutions with ties to Israel, such as museums and universities, protesters hope to pressure them into taking action and supporting the Palestinian cause. The demonstrations have also been met with opposition from authorities who seek to maintain order and security, leading to clashes and arrests in some cases.
The involvement of law enforcement in response to the protests reflects the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the differing perspectives on how best to address the situation. While protesters see themselves as fighting for justice and equality, authorities view their actions as disruptive and unlawful, necessitating intervention to maintain public safety. As the conflict continues to spark activism and dissent, the struggle for Palestinian rights and a resolution to the conflict remains a contentious and complex issue that elicits strong emotions and actions from both sides. The confrontation at the Brooklyn Museum is just one example of the ongoing efforts by activists to raise awareness and advocate for change in support of the Palestinian cause.
