Thousands in NYC say, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

New York, NY – Approximately 4000 Palestinians and allies rallied and marched in the center of New York city in protest of President Trump moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Currently, the U.S. Embassy is in Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel (Occupied Palestine). Moving the embassy to Jerusalem would end up emboldening Israel’s criminal occupation. Even imperialist countries, such as France, have denounced the President Trump’s move.

The protesters in New York joined the with Palestinians, who called for three days of rage in response to Trump’s action. The event started in Times Square, where the sheer number of people overflowed the police barricades and spilled out into the streets. A 25-foot Palestinian flag covered the crowd, undulating as the people moved.

A few pro-Zionist forces were drowned out by thousands of voices chanting, “Free, free Palestine!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

The crowd chanted and swelled in size for over two hours. At the end of the rally there was a short list of speakers, including Lamis Deek from Al-Awda NY. She spoke about the importance of Palestinian struggle and how Israeli occupation is a hindrance to peace. She said, “Wherever there is Israel there is violence. And where there is Palestine, there is freedom!” to which the whole crowd erupted in cheers.

The march began with people marching filed in a line, talking up several city blocks, chanting the whole way, waving hundreds of Palestinian flags.

The march ended in front of the CNN building by Columbus Circle, right near Trump Towers, a symbolic moment highlighting the connection between the U.S.’s brutal history of colonialism and Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Despite a large police presence, the people kept chanting and waving Palestinian flags, declaring that Palestine one day will be free.