New York: Chaos erupted in the heart of Manhattan on Saturday, June 21 as pro-Palestinian protesters stormed Penn Station during a “Globalize The Intifada” rally, bringing one of the busiest transit hubs in the US to a standstill.
The protest began peacefully at Union Square Park, with demonstrators gathering to oppose Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. But tensions escalated as the crowd moved through downtown Manhattan, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans including “Free Palestine” and “Globalize the Intifada”.
Here are some visuals from the scene that surfaced on social media:
Protest March Turns Disruptive at Penn Station
Protesters flooded the food court of the Moynihan Train Hall, raising slogans like “While you’re eating, Gaza’s bleeding” and “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping.”
Inside the terminal, the air was thick with chants of “Gaza,” while Palestinian flags were waved in defiance. Demonstrators could also be heard chanting, “No KKK, no fascist USA,” as they moved through the station, disrupting evening commuters.
Authorities have not confirmed any arrests or injuries as of now, but the incident significantly impacted foot traffic at the busy transit hub.
The rally is part of a growing wave of global protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, which intensified following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 240 people taken hostage.
Since then, Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground operations have devastated large parts of Gaza. By June 2025, over 54,000 Palestinians had been killed, with more than two-thirds of the region reduced to rubble.
As the death toll rises, demonstrators across the US and abroad have taken to the streets in solidarity with Palestinian civilians, calling for an immediate end to the war and increased pressure on Western governments to act.
