A group of protesters caused chaos in Central Park on Monday by burning an American flag and vandalizing a World War I memorial. The protesters were attempting to disrupt the star-studded Met Gala, but were stopped by a large police presence near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The incident took place near Fifth Avenue and East 67th Street, close to the museum. Videos shared on social media showed the protesters clashing with police in several locations near the Met Gala, resulting in several arrests. The New York Police Department (NYPD) intervened to prevent the protesters from reaching the museum and causing further disruption.
According to reports, the protesters vandalized the General William Tecumseh Sherman bronze statue in Grand Army Plaza, painting “Free Gaza” graffiti on its base and fixing a Palestinian flag on its front. Around two dozen protesters were arrested near Madison Avenue and East 83rd Street as they marched towards the Met Gala from Hunter College.
The protesters claimed to be part of a “Day of Rage” protest organized by the Palestinian activist group Within Our Lifetime. They were heard chanting “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” as they clashed with police in Central Park. The NYPD instructed the protesters to stay on the sidewalk and not disrupt vehicular traffic during the protest.
