The “Free Palestine” float, organized by Tarab NYC, a Middle Eastern and North African LGBTQ+ organization, was one of the largest displays of support for Palestinian liberation in this year’s parade, drawing cheers from spectators on Seventh Avenue as it passed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe protests against Gaza that broke out in the second half of the march highlighted the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza. <\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nAround 2:30 p.m., 11 activists from the Fruit for Palestine Liberation Coalition (CFF), part of Writers Against the Gaza War, broke through a Christopher Street barricade and sprayed red paint on the Human Rights Campaign\u2019s (HRC) Pride parade float and accompanying pickup truck. They then held up banners that read \u201cNo gay liberation without Palestinian liberation\u201d and \u201cPalestine will be free.\u201d<\/p>\n
The demonstration, which lasted about half an hour, followed a rally held by HRC in February, at which activists asked the nonprofit to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and protested its financial relationship with weapons maker Northrop Grumman, which is listed as a “Platinum Partner” on HRC’s website.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tThe march was temporarily halted by a demonstration to Gaza to protest against the financial ties of human rights campaign groups to weapons manufacturers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nThe group also distributed yellow leaflets criticizing “whitewash Zionists” and “rainbow capitalism.”<\/p>\n
“We stand with the assholes and fight for the demise of the empire. Assholes burn ‘American’ and ‘Israeli’ flags,” the flyers read. The pamphlets also mention figures such as Argentinian transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, who died young in February and was recently memorialized alongside those killed in Gaza at an ACT UP event at Fire Island’s Trailblazers Park, and Aaron Bushnell, a U.S. Air Force service member who set himself on fire in February to protest U.S. support for Israel’s attack on Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLeft: Protesters threw red paint on a Human Rights Campaign float, which was sprayed from cans decorated with fake flowers; Right: Activists also distributed yellow leaflets explaining the reasons for their action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cWe stand in solidarity with every Palestinian, including the most ordinary and imperfect, lest some of us forget that none of them deserve this and that their deaths should shame us and compel us to act,\u201d the article concluded.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tThe protest caused the march to be temporarily stopped for about half an hour on Christopher Street, just a block from the Stonewall Inn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhile many spectators joined activists in chanting “Free Palestine” to show support for the protest, some onlookers criticized the action. Ben Siggers, a spectator from Baltimore who was standing in the same neighborhood when the protest began, told Allergic<\/em> He disagreed with “hijacking someone else’s float.” Ayesha and Ismail Mohammed, a couple from New Jersey, had similar feelings about the parade being interrupted, saying they agreed with the purpose of the protest but felt it was held at the “wrong time.” One of the strongest objections to the demonstration came from parade volunteer worker and transgender rights advocate TS Candii, who was witnessed and recorded Allergic<\/em> During the action, they shouted \u201cF**K Palestine\u201d in the middle of Christopher Street.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tAs police began arresting protesters, many spectators watching the protest cheered the activists by chanting “Free Palestine” and “Shame on you!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n“We support Palestinian freedom. We stand with them, but we support peaceful protests,” Kandy said in follow-up comments Allergic<\/em>criticizing the action for “disrupting order and deliberately obstructing traffic.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nFive minutes later, protesters refused <\/strong>As march organizers called for the march to continue, police detained 10 protesters and bystanders shouted “Shame on you!” An NYPD representative later told Allergic<\/em> Seven of the activists received court summonses on charges of disorderly conduct, while three were arrested on charges of obstructing government administration and criminal damage.<\/p>\nTwo protesters arrested, writer and musician H. Sinno and novelist Kathleen Alcott, told Allergic<\/em> They were held overnight in Manhattan’s Central Booking Center in “appalling and inhumane conditions” and described experiencing rodent infestations, verbal abuse and threats of violence, physical attacks, constant sexism and sexually explicit comments about their bodies.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tThe New York Police Department detained 10 people on charges including disorderly conduct, obstruction of public order and malicious damage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhen the parade resumed around 3 p.m., many spectators who had witnessed the protests and arrests loudly jeering at the HRC float.<\/p>\n
“Pride is protest, and we welcome all voices at today’s march. We respect the protesters’ right to demonstrate while ensuring the parade is safe and smooth for all participants,” said New York Pride organizers, who are responsible for organizing the parade. Allergic<\/em> in a statement. HRC has not yet responded Allergic<\/em>media inquiries.<\/p>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tWhen the parade resumed, many spectators who had witnessed the protests and arrests continued to boo the Human Rights Movement float. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nYesterday\u2019s march ended early around 4pm due to \u201cinclement weather\u201d following a banner demonstration for Gaza at the AIDS Memorial in New York City early Friday morning. The event, organized by ACT UP and Jewish Voice for Peace to welcome President Joe Biden\u2019s visit to the newly opened Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, included the display of two banners and dozens of wheat posters calling on Biden to halt weapons shipments to Israel amid its ongoing assault on Gaza.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tAs is tradition, hundreds of people flocked to Washington Square Park to cool off under the public fountains and trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tSpectators showed their support for the event by wearing all kinds of rainbow accessories, from pins and socks to giant flags and full-face masks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tThe parade was filled with gorgeous LGBTQ+ pride-themed costumes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tMany marchers took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on issues including Israel’s assault on Gaza, risks to abortion rights, protections for members of the transgender community and fair contracts for union workers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tWithin half an hour of the sit-in beginning, police swarmed Christopher Street to break it up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tThe Sirens, a women\u2019s, non-binary and trans motorcycle club, helped kick off the parade by displaying bright rainbows on their wheels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tMegan told Allergic<\/em> She added butterflies to her clown makeup to commemorate her recent coming out as a lesbian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tOn the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of New York to celebrate this historic event that catalyzed the queer rights movement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nEditor’s Note 7\/2\/24 10:30 AM EST: <\/strong>This article has been updated by two <\/em>Protesters<\/em> WHO<\/em> yes<\/em> Arrested.<\/em><\/p>\n
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