A campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris in New York descended into chaos Wednesday night as pro-Palestinian protesters clashed violently with police, who deployed smoke bombs to disperse the crowd. The tumultuous scene, marked by arrests and property damage, underscores the intensifying tensions surrounding the Gaza war.
HAPPENING NOW: Pro-Palestine Protesters stormed a Harris for President Democratic Party event.
Chaos ensued as the protestors set off smoke bomb. Attendees were forced to evacuate due to the chaos.
Hold. Them. Accountable.pic.twitter.com/3Sc6UFDOee
— Ethan Fine (@FineEthan) August 15, 2024
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators violently disrupted the event for the Democratic vice presidential candidate, displaying signs in support of the Hamas terrorist organization. The protesters caused significant disorder outside the venue, prompting a forceful police response.
Law enforcement officers at the scene employed various crowd control measures, including smoke bombs, to quell the public disturbance. Police arrested several demonstrators and put an end to the gathering outside the New York rally location as the situation spiraled into chaos.
The incident follows a similar protest last week, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside another campaign event held by Harris in Arizona. The protesters called for the "liberation of Palestine" and staged a vocal demonstration at the rally, which had drawn approximately 15,000 attendees.
Harris addressed the protesters, stressing the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the Israeli hostages home, but stressed that the event focused on the election campaign.
As of Aug. 15, 115 Israelis remain held hostage by Hamas, of whom 41 have been declared dead, having either been killed on Oct. 7 or in captivity.
