Some 150 anti-Israel protesters staged a demonstration at Grand Central Station in midtown Manhattan on Monday evening.
The New York City Police Department told JNS that it responded to a demonstration at 5:40 p.m. near 46th Street and First Avenue. Two individuals were arrested.
Jose Munoz, 34, was arrested and charged with grand larceny and Maimuna Islam, 21, was arrested and charged with obstructing governmental administration.
“There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident and six individuals were taken into custody,” the NYPD stated. “Four individuals were issued summonses and were released.”
The protest at Grand Central Station was organized by the anti-Israel group, Within Our Lifetime. Nerdeen Kiswani, the founder of the group, stated that the group initially attempted to protest outside of the Israeli consulate on Second Avenue but was turned away by the NYPD.
“Gaza said: Stop the world for Palestine, so today, WOL Palestine took over Grand Central Station,” she stated. “NYPD shut down multiple entrances and brought the heart of NYC to a halt. We protested in front of the U.N. and Egyptian embassy.”
“We are just getting started,” she added.
In a statement published Tuesday, Within Our Lifetime alleged that as the group was protesting in midtown Manhattan, “a Zionist resident, proudly holding an Israeli flag from their balcony, began launching projectiles at the protesters below—objects that could have easily killed or injured someone.”
The group noted that a bucket of bleach, a bag filled with rocks and feces and an additional garbage bag of debris were thrown at protesters.
“One of the final projectiles smashed a car windshield, and just inches from hitting children, protesters were showered with filth and toxic liquids,” it stated. “It was an intentional, violent assault meant to harm and intimidate.”
“Instead of taking action against the assailant, the NYPD continued to target us for protesting a genocide paid for with our tax dollars,” it added.
The NYPD told JNS that it responded to a 911 call for reckless endangerment at 6:30 p.m.
“Upon arrival of police to the scene, a 43-year-old male complainant reported that he was parked in front of the location, when an unknown individual dropped an object from the balcony of a nearby building,” it stated. “The impact of the object shattered the front window of his vehicle, posing a significant risk of serious physical injury had it landed on pedestrians in the vicinity.”
“There is no suspect description available and the investigation remains ongoing,” the NYPD noted.
