Pro-Palestinian Protestors Marching Towards Met Gala in New York City Arrested: Reports

Ingrid Vasquez
·2 min read
1

Around a dozen protestors were arrested, according to local news outlets

<p>CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty</p> Demonstrators outside the Met Gala

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

Demonstrators outside the Met Gala

Pro-Palestinian protestors marching towards 2024 Met Gala have been arrested, according to The New York Times, The New York Daily News and local sources PEOPLE spoke to.

The Times did not mention how many protestors were arrested as fashion's biggest night was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, though The New York Daily News put the figure at "about a dozen."

New York Post reported there being over 1,000 protestors marching throughout upper Manhattan before they were stopped at the East 79th St Transverse in Central Park. PEOPLE has reached out to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for comment.

<p>CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty</p> Protestors outside the Met Gala

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

Protestors outside the Met Gala

One video from the scene shared on X, formerly Twitter, showed large crowds walking in front of and between cars beating drums and waving Palestinian flags and large signs.

Another video showed police walking through a crowd. A speaker could be heard blasting orders from officials, stating, "If you remain in the roadway and refuse to utilize the sidewalk, you will be put under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct."

According to the account on X for Within Our Lifetime (a group that says it's seeking "defense of Rafah, Gaza and all of Palestine"), the protest was called the "Citywide Day of Rage for Gaza" and began near Hunter College. The group said it closed out its march by 9 pm ET.

The protest comes on the same day that Columbia University issued a press release indicating that its main commencement ceremony, originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 15, would be canceled in the wake of the ongoing protests.

<p>CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty</p> Demonstrators outside the Met Gala

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty

Demonstrators outside the Met Gala

"Our graduating students, their families, and their loved ones are very focused on our upcoming Commencement celebrations. We are as well. We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve, and that they want," the university said. "Our Deans and other colleagues who work directly with our students have been discussing plans with student leaders, and, most importantly, listening."

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In replacement of the ceremony, the university will host "school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers."

This story is developing.

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