Pro-Palestine supporters hijack roads surrounding Pentagon chief and NSA advisor’s homes while mob chanting ‘Long live the intifada’ and ‘Christmas is canceled’ storm Manhattan amid nation-wide anti-Israel protests
Pro-Palestinian protesters hit cities across America as they vowed to 'cancel' Christmas celebrations in the US as Israel continues its assault on Gaza.
Large crowds descended on the homes of Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Virginia as they celebrated the holidays with their families.
In one clip shared on social media, protesters could be heard chanting, “Austin, Austin, rise and shine, no sleep during genocide.”
Several protesters were reportedly arrested in New York as they marched through downtown Manhattan, where the group declared that there is “no joy in genocide.” It is unclear what they were arrested for.
On Christmas Day, huge crowds filled the streets of Manhattan to protest US support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas
New Yorkers saw their Christmas marred by demonstrations, including chants of 'one wish for Christmas, long live the resistance'
Pro-Palestinian protesters descended on the homes of Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as they celebrated Christmas with their families
Outside Austin and Sullivan's respective homes, protesters locked down neighborhoods as they voiced their demands through megaphones.
“Austin, we're at your gate,” they said in one clip. 'Justice is our only destiny.'
The groups carried signs declaring that “Palestine will be free” and spoke from blood-covered podiums that listed defense and weapons suppliers, including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
The homes of Austin and Sullivan were targeted as the Biden administration continues to support Israel in carrying out retaliatory attacks on Gaza.
The protests appear to have been organized by The People's Forum, which shared around 11 a.m. Christmas morning that it was celebrating a “morning wake near Lloyd Austin.”
“We are going to a second location to protest at the home of another war criminal,” the group added at the time, as attendees were seen holding a sign that read: “Genocide Joe – you have blood on your hands.” '
Shortly afterwards, the group shared a photo of Sullivan with a red line across his eyes, vowing that there would be “no Christmas as usual for war criminals.”
“This morning, protesters woke up (Austin) trying to continue his Christmas while arming and supporting the Zionist genocide against the Palestinian people,” the group said.
“Now we're disrupting ANOTHER war criminal: (Sullivan). People are saying NO CHRISTMAS AS USUAL!'
The protests were organized by The People's Forum, which said it targeted national security adviser Jake Sullivan for being a “war criminal.”
Protesters spoke from blood-soaked podiums decorated with the names of weapons and defense companies, including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin
The group also declared a day of protests in New York City, calling for “mobilization, not celebration” and to “bring materials to build a nativity scene.”
A bright red nativity scene reading 'no joy in genocide' was a central part of the protest as it passed through the Big Apple on Christmas Day
The group also appears to be behind ugly scenes in the Big Apple, as hostile crowds clashed with NYPD officers on Christmas Day afternoon.
A flyer, purportedly from organizers, called on people to gather outside the Newscorp building – home of Fox News – and to “bring your flags, signs, keffiyehs and materials to build a nativity scene.”
A bright red nativity scene reading “no joy in genocide” was later a central part of the protest as it passed through Manhattan.
Protesters chanted “one wish for Christmas, long live the resistance” and “no more money for Israel's crimes,” as a large police presence was deployed to control the crowds.
“Long live the intifada,” the crowd also sang near the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree as tourists walked along Fifth Avenue.
The same spot had been targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters a month ago, where hostile scenes erupted as New Yorkers marked the annual tree lighting.
The demonstration appeared to turn hostile when the group moved to Grand Central, which was forced to close earlier in November after pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the building.
Protesters and police panicked as they clashed at the scene. Several people were arrested, but it was unclear what the reasons for the arrests were.
A pro-Palestinian protester holds a sign that reads “while you're shopping, bombs are falling” during the protest in New York City
The protests appear to have been organized by activist group 'The People's Forum', which has repeatedly called for 'shutting down for Palestine' by disrupting public events in recent weeks.
A female protester demonstrates in New York City holding a sign calling on Israel to 'stop bombing civilians'
The People's Forum has been behind a number of protests in America since the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, with repeated calls to “halt the conflict for Palestine” by disrupting public events.
Last month it was revealed that the group is funded by a Connecticut tech investor and his wife, who reportedly funneled at least $20 million into the group's operations.
After the protests on Christmas Day, the organization announced that it will organize a new round of demonstrations on New Year's Eve.
“No holidays can be celebrated as usual while a genocide is taking place in real time,” the group said.
“People will take to the streets on New Year's Eve and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to the brutal Zionist occupation.”