[ A large demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, came
as Israel ramped up its military operations in Gaza.]
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CALLS FOR CEASE-FIRE FILL GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL  
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Claire Fahy, Julian Roberts-Grmela, Sean Piccoli and Erin Nolan
October 27, 2023
New York Times
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_ A large demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, came as
Israel ramped up its military operations in Gaza. _

Protesters crowded into Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan
on Friday., Bing Guan for The New York Times

 

Hundreds of protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas
war streamed into Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on
Friday, in one of the largest protests New York City has seen since
the start of the conflict three weeks ago.

The demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, came as Israel
ramped up its military operations inside Gaza.

The protesters filled the train station, chanting, “Cease-fire
now” and “Let Gaza live.” Most wore black shirts that read
“Not in our name.” One police officer estimated that there were as
many as 1,000 protesters.

Steve Auerbach, a pediatrician in the city, said he was concerned
about the children caught in the middle of the conflict.

“This has to stop,” he said. “Calling for a cease-fire should be
considered a mainstream, normative position.”

Banners declaring “Palestinians should be free” and “Israelis
demand cease-fire now” were unfurled over stairwell banisters in the
terminal.

Demonstrators chanted “Cease-fire now” and “Let Gaza
live.”Credit...Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

“I don’t believe in this war,” said Rosalind Petchesky, 81, a
member of Jewish Voice for Peace who was later taken into custody by
police.

 
Sumaya Awad said she wanted the U.S. government to “follow the
guidance and the wants of the majority of Americans.”

“We’re here engaging in civil disobedience to make it clear that
we want the bombs to stop falling,” she said.

The protest disrupted the evening commute for thousands of people on
Friday evening. Commuters walked by, some pausing, others looking
confused. No train delays were reported because of the protest.

The police tried unsuccessfully to block the entrances to Grand
Central, then stood and watched as demonstrators took over the main
concourse.

By 7 p.m., with hundreds of protesters still in the station, the
police told people to leave and began taking hundreds of protesters
into custody. Soon after, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
announced that it would not allow anyone to enter the terminal and
designated two entryways as exits only.

A total of 335 people were taken into custody, according to the police
on Saturday, and they were issued summonses for criminal trespass and
disorderly conduct.

As the demonstration in the main concourse officially wound down,
police officers used a lift to reach two protesters standing on a
ledge above the ticket booths, in front of the departures board. They
were holding a sign that said, in all capital letters, “Never again
for anyone.”

 

Claire Fahy [[link removed]] reports on New
York City and the surrounding area for The New York Times. She can be
reached at [email protected]. More about Claire Fahy
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Erin Nolan [[link removed]] is a reporter for
the Metro desk and a member of the 2023-2024 New York Times Fellowship
class [[link removed]].
More about Erin Nolan [[link removed]]

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* Jewish Voice for Peace
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* Anti-Zionism
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* Ceasefire
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