NEW YORK — New York City police said Saturday they had taken 34 people into custody following a pro-Palestinian protest at the Brooklyn Museum, during which damage to artwork and intimidation of security staff by demonstrators were reported.
Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the museum set up tents in the lobby on Friday afternoon and unfurled a “Free Palestine” banner from the roof of the building before police moved in to make arrests.
New York police officers addressed And beaten Some protesters during clashes that broke out in the crowd outside the museum, with some demonstrators throwing plastic bottles at officers and shouting insults. Other demonstrators held banners, waved Palestinian flags and sang loudly on the steps of the grand Beaux Arts museum, the city’s second largest.
City police said the 34 people in custody were being processed and charges were being determined.
Museum spokesperson Taylor Maatman said in a statement that the museum closed an hour early due to concerns about the safety of people and the art collections.
“Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and newly installed artwork in our plaza, and our public safety personnel were physically and verbally harassed,” Maatman said.
The rally started Friday afternoon across the street from the Barclays Center, home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. Protesters beat drums and sang, then headed to the museum about a mile away.
Organizers, including the group Within Our Lifetime, called on their supporters to “flood” and “evacuate” the museum, saying they wanted to take over the building until officials ” disclosure and disposal ” of all investments related to Israeli actions in Gaza.
Videos posted on social media showed guards inside the museum tries to secure his doors against the growing crowd and demonstrators who found other ways in.
Within Our Lifetime posted on social media that its chairman, Nerdeen Kiswani, had been “attacked and violently arrested” by police.
New York City has seen hundreds of street demonstrations since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.
The Brooklyn Museum is located on the edge of Crown Heights, home to one of the city’s largest communities of Orthodox Jews.