Anti-Israel Protesters Try Stop To The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, NYPD Wasn’t Having It [WATCH]

In a repeat of last year’s Thanksgiving Day chaos, anti-Israel protesters attempted to ruin the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, only to be swiftly removed by law enforcement.

Roughly 25 individuals were arrested during the brief disruption as protesters sought to halt the parade’s progress and advance their political message.

The protesters took to the parade route at West 55th Street and Fifth Avenue around 9:25 a.m., causing a standstill when they stopped the iconic Ronald McDonald balloon.

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The protestors unfurled a banner that read: “Don’t celebrate genocide!” as they sat on the parade route, blocking the balloon’s path.

Their actions sparked loud reactions from the crowd, with parade-goers loudly chanting “Get the hell out of here” and expressing their displeasure with the demonstration.

Mass arrests after the pro-Palestine crew decided to crash the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

See this is not about protest anymore, this is about attention and the way you stop people from seeking this kind of attention is by giving them all the wrong kinds of attention. pic.twitter.com/pSPVHJcVXx

— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) November 28, 2024

Despite the disruption, the majority of the crowd seemed more interested in enjoying the parade’s festive atmosphere, particularly the arrival of the Bluey balloon, rather than engaging with the protesters’ political message.

Photos of the scene showed some protesters sitting in the parade’s path while others held their banner, while members of the crowd responded with boos and calls to remove them.

The NYPD quickly moved in, arresting the protesters and restoring order to the parade. As the group continued to chant “Free, free Palestine!” law enforcement officers were seen taking them into custody.

Mass arrests at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after Palestine protesters block road.pic.twitter.com/be9ltoQNxf

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) November 28, 2024

Police reported that 25 individuals were arrested “without incident,” though footage captured by The Post showed some of the protesters being forcibly subdued.

Officers were seen flipping some individuals onto their stomachs before handcuffing them, and there was visible scuffling as they attempted to remove the protesters from the scene.

Following the arrests, the parade resumed without further incident.

The balloon line leader, announcing the resumption of the parade, excitedly declared, “Ronald McDonald, everybody!” signaling the return to normal proceedings.

The protesters were taken to One Police Plaza, where they were processed at the NYPD’s mass arrest center.

Despite their efforts, the disruption lasted only about five minutes and did little to slow down the parade, which continued as planned.

Mayor Eric Adams had issued a warning to potential protesters ahead of the parade, stressing that any attempts to disrupt the event would not be tolerated. “I really want to take the moment to tell those grinches that believe they are going to disrupt the parade that it is not going to happen,” Adams said the night before the parade.

While this year’s protest was shorter and less disruptive than last year’s, which saw about 40 arrests, City Hall officials still condemned the actions of the demonstrators.

Spokesperson Kayla Mamelak called the protest “disrespectful,” emphasizing that it achieved nothing other than to disturb the enjoyment of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors.

“Interrupting New York City’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to protest a conflict overseas is disrespectful and accomplishes absolutely nothing,” Mamelak stated. “They have won over no one, and, instead, have just disrupted a fun day for thousands.”

In addition to the disruption at the parade, other protesters took their message to the Queensboro Bridge, hanging more banners decrying “genocide” and advocating for the freeing of Palestine.

These banners were quickly removed by the police, with no further incidents reported.

As Thanksgiving Day festivities continued, New York City residents were reminded of the ongoing tension surrounding the political protests, but also of the city’s resilience in maintaining its traditions despite attempts to disrupt them.

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