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In New York, Saturday was the National Day of Action for the Palestinian cause. And a number of Pro-Palestine demonstrators found themselves in police custody. 

The demonstrations, organized by the Palestinian-led community group Within Our Lifetime, took place on what they termed the "National Day of Action for Gaza." Thousands of participants took to the streets, united in their collective demand for an end to what they perceived as "U.S.-sponsored genocide in Gaza."

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Storming the Capitol

On Wednesday, protestors stormed the Capitol. US Capitol Police issued warnings to the Pro-Palestine protestors, as they occupied the building’s rotunda. 

The police expressed their concerns that the demonstrations violated the preset rules for protests within the Capitol. Although the protestors initially entered the building legally, a shift in there was evident in the later stages of the protest. Soon the mob turned unruly leading to hundreds of arrests, 3 individuals even faced charges of assaulting a police officer.

The heart of the protest unfolded in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, as demonstrators vehemently called for an end to the attacks by the Israel Defense Forces that have resulted in the loss of lives in Palestine.

 As the protests continued into the night, the New York Police Department (NYPD) took several people into custody, as captured by various on-scene video clips.

Diversity in Pro-Palestine protests

Among the protesters, a group representing NKUSA (Neturei Karta - Orthodox Jews United Against Zionism) stood in solidarity with Palestinians, emphasizing the diverse range of communities that joined in this march on October 21, 2023.

These protests took place against the backdrop of Israel's announcement to intensify its military operations in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing preparations for a potential ground assault. 

The escalation in violence followed two weeks of intense conflict between Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants and Israeli forces, initiated by surprise attacks on Israel on October 7. 

These attacks led to the loss of hundreds of lives and the terrorists also took hostages. Subsequently, Israeli airstrikes have been relentless in targeting the Gaza Strip.

As of Thursday, October 19, about 3,785 civilians had lost their lives in Gaza, according to a report by Reuters.

Videos captured by local outlet ABC7 Eyewitness News revealed escalating tensions between police officers and demonstrators as officers attempted to clear protesters from the roadways. 

These clips showcased a diverse array of people, including Orthodox Jews, uniting in their shared plea for an end to the violence in the Middle East. While the day began peacefully, the relations between marchers and law enforcement deteriorated as night fell, leading to multiple detentions.

According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, more than a dozen individuals were arrested during this particular wave of demonstrations. Details about charges brought against the protesters, if any, remain undisclosed as of now.

A video shared on social media by the pro-Palestine group "Flame of Liberation" depicted a demonstrator being apprehended and placed in an NYPD vehicle by multiple officers. Onlookers expressed their disapproval, booing and shouting at the police presence.

 Another video from the same source featured a different woman being escorted by two officers to a police van, with her audible distress resonating through the crowd. Onlookers continued to demand her release, and a man was also taken into custody by officers without apparent resistance.

Beyond the Brooklyn protests, more than 130 anti-war demonstrators found themselves under arrest for blocking traffic on 5th Avenue in Manhattan the previous night. These protesters urged New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to endorse a ceasefire, congregating outside her office to condemn the loss of innocent lives.