Police arrested more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protestors who disrupted the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
The NYPD told The Hill that 25 protesters were arrested on trespassing charges. Protesters reportedly jumped police barricades, with photos circulated online showing demonstrators sitting in the roadway at 55th Street and 6th Avenue with parade floats stopped nearby.
Local outlet ABC7 reported that the parade was delayed for about five minutes while the protesters were removed from the road.
All of the demonstrators have been released as of Friday, according to the NYPD.
This the second year in a row that pro-Palestinian protesters have used the nationally televised parade to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid nearly 14 months of conflict following Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of Israel.
Earlier this week, President Biden applauded a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which started Wednesday. It’s been touted as a step toward broader potential peace negotiations in the area, yet both sides have already accused each other of violating the deal.
Biden has pushed for months to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, and said Tuesday he would make a new push for a ceasefire in Gaza in the coming days.
