On New Year's Day, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators converged on Times Square, waving Palestinian flags and engaging in heated exchanges with counter-protesters. This demonstration, organized by groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, occurred just hours after a deadly terror attack in New Orleans. The Times Square protesters chanted slogans calling for an "intifada revolution" and voiced support for Gaza and Palestinian martyrs. Some held signs condemning Zionism and demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Videos circulating online show a heated confrontation where a protester told counter-protesters to "go back to Europe." A speaker at the event declared 2024 a year of struggle against Zionism and vowed to continue demonstrating until "total liberation and return."
The New Orleans attack, which took place on Bourbon Street in the early hours of New Year's Day, involved a pickup truck driven into a crowd of revelers. The perpetrator, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was shot and killed by police. The FBI has identified Jabbar as a U.S. citizen formerly residing in Texas, with a military background including service in Afghanistan. Authorities recovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the scene and are seeking witnesses who may have observed these devices. Jabbar reportedly claimed allegiance to ISIS in videos posted online before the attack. A separate pro-Palestinian procession is planned for January 6th in New Orleans, near the site of the attack.
