Anti-Israel protesters cause havoc outside the Met Gala, vandalize war memorial



The glitz and glamour of the Met Gala in New York City was not without controversy this year as anti-Israel protesters descended on the area of the annual event in an attempt to cause a disruption.

Anti-Israel protesters have escalated their tactics in recent weeks in response to nationwide clampdowns on encampments on colleges campuses and the Israeli military entering the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Organizers called for a "Day of Rage" to put pressure on the United States to intervene and stop Israel's latest military operations.

"Pro Palestine protesters take to the streets in New York City outside of the Met Gala to call attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, with the ruling class continuing their lives of extreme excess whilst Palestinians are dying every minute in the US backed ‘war,’" a pro-Palestinian account posted on X.

Videos posted on Monday evening showed New York City police officers having a hard time keeping the crowd away from the location where the Met Gala was being held. Protesters cut through Central Park to avoid police barricades in order to get closer to the event.

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A fight also broke out during the march, which saw protesters trying to stay one step ahead of the NYPD.

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Toward the end of the night, "Day of Rage" protesters stopped their march at the 107th infantry War Soldier Memorial, which honors soldiers who served with the unit during World War I. Some protesters started to drape Palestinian flags on the memorial and vandalize it with graffiti. Protesters also set fire to an American flag at the base of the monument.

#NOW 107th infantry War Soldier Memorial draped in Palestinian flag while American flag burns on the ground on 5th Ave in NYC during 'DAY OF RAGE' protest.
— (@)


"These terrorist sympathizers committed felony violations of the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act by defacing this memorial to the 107th Infantry," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in response to the videos showing the vandalism. "I call upon Joe Biden’s DOJ to use the same techniques against them that it used against every grandma in a red MAGA hat within a country mile of the Capitol on January 6, 2021."

"Just got word that a good friend of mine and Veteran has cleared the 107th Infantry War Soldier Memorial of the Hamas propaganda left by vandals this evening, and planted an American flag at the base. He and another Veteran went into action as soon as images emerged of what had happened here. Sadly this is far from over," NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said, posting pictures showing some of the vandalism had been removed.

Kyle Rittenhouse tells detractors at Kent State to 'cope harder' while the attacker he showed mercy to seethes outside



Kyle Rittenhouse visited Kent State University in Ohio Tuesday to speak about the importance of the Second Amendment as part of a Turning Point USA lecture series.

As with his other recent appearances, Rittenhouse was once again met with apoplectic teens apparently convinced — perhaps because of the liberal media's various false reports — that he was a "murderer" and possibly even a racist, despite having been acquitted of all charges and shooting only white men.

Among the radical leftists who gathered outside the Kent Student Center to protest the event was an individual who personally helped Rittenhouse understand just how critical firearms are to self-defense in America.

Gaige Grosskreutz, who now goes by the name Paul Prediger, addressed the angry mob and made expressly clear that he has a chip on his shoulder extra to the scar on his forearm.

The one who got away

Grosskreutz was one of the men who swarmed Rittenhouse during a BLM riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 25, 2020. Whereas the domestic abuser with multiple convictions and the violent child molester who attacked the then-17-year-old Rittenhouse died for doing so, Grosskreutz was simply disarmed with a well-placed and merciful shot.

During Rittenhouse's murder trial, defense lawyer Corey Chirafisi asked Grosskreutz, "When you were standing three to five feet from [Rittenhouse] with your arms up in the air, he never fired, right?"

"Correct," answered Grosskreutz.

"It wasn't until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him with your gun, now your hands down and pointed at him, that he fired, right?" said Chirafisi.

"Correct," said Grosskreutz.

— (@)

While ever keen to paint himself as an innocent victim, Grosskreutz was charged with a firearm offense prior to going after the minor with a gun in 2020.

According to the New York Post, Grosskreutz's lengthy criminal record also includes burglary, drunk driving, and a domestic incident. In 2010, he was apparently arrested and charged with smashing his grandmother in the face.

Grosskreutz tries again to stop Rittenhouse

The Ohio Student Association noted in a statement ahead of the protest that "Gaige Grosskreutz, surviving victim of the deadly massacre, alongside Kent students, will be hosting a press conference, followed by a teach-in, on campus to condemn Rittenhouse's status as a guest speaker and highlight the harm that his hateful and violent white supremacy inflicts on our campuses and communities."

Despite there being no indication Rittenhouse holds any racial prejudices, the OSA further claimed Rittenhouse's presence "embodies a deeply disturbing ideology of white supremacism."

On Tuesday, the OHA's guest of honor, Grosskreutz, indicated he was ending his silence.

"While I've simply tried to live my life and not relive those moments, Kyle Rittenhouse has taken a different path," said Grosskreutz.

In February 2023, Grosskreutz added Rittenhouse to the civil lawsuit he originally filed against the city and county of Kenosha along with local law enforcement officials. Rittenhouse has responded with a countersuit.

"He has used every moment to gloat and to make light of taking life," continued the leftist. "As if that were not enough, Kyle has embraced and been embraced by those who peddle hateful rhetoric, who believe in nationalism that excludes those who do not look like or think like them, and who have sought to amplify a troubling desire for violence against supposed political, cultural, and religious enemies."

Grosskreutz declared, "Enough of Kyle and his rhetoric, enough of the celebration of loss of human life, enough of the flawed logic because a 17-year-old who shot me and killed two others with an illegally obtained firearm, an illegally carried firearm is now somehow qualified to be a champion of gun rights."

#NOW Paul Prediger, Formerly Known As Gaige Grosskreutz, a man who was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse on August 25 2020 in Kenosha, speaks on Kent State University campus ahead of Kyle Rittenhouse speech tonight.
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Grosskreutz failed in this latest attempt to stop Rittenhouse, who then took questions for nearly 40 minutes.

"Thank God I'm still alive and here to share my story," Rittenhouse told the crowd. "Because they really wanted to kill me. And it makes a lot of these leftists upset that I'm coming to these universities to share my story. And all I can say to them is: 'Cope harder.'"

WYSO-FM reported that during his speech, Rittenhouse called for the Ohio legislature to implement "campus carry" laws to ensure that law-abiding students have the means to defend themselves against various threats.

"What happens if these Hamas Palestinian terrorists come to the U.S. and try to attack us?" said Rittenhouse. "Are we supposed to be left defenseless?"

Rittenhouse's support for the Constitution and the ability for Americans to defend themselves did not resonate with the mob outside, which chanted, "Murderer!"

#NOW "Murderer! Murderer!" protesters chant outside of Kyle Rittenhouse TPUSA speaking event at Kent State University in Ohio. Protesters flip attendees off ad they leave the event.
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Pat Millhoff, a Kent State alumnus who attended the university around the time the National Guard shot student supporters of the genocidal Red Khmers, told WYSO, "So, it's just appalling to me that they would bring this particular speaker to campus so close to May 4th."

"I just think it's glorifying him. So I agree with free speech, but I'm just not sure this was the appropriate time and place to have this young man here," added Millhoff.

Despite the apparent desire on campus to shut down the event, a spokeswoman for the university stated, "We cannot ban speech because it would go against a core value and because of well-established laws governing free speech on public university campuses."

When leaving the campus, Rittenhouse thanked the protesters, telling them, "You've been a wonderful crowd. Wonderful crowd! Thank you!"

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Massive crowd of Hamas sympathizers vows to disrupt Christmas 'as usual,' causes havoc in NYC Saturday



Groups sympathetic to terror organization Hamas planned and executed a massive rally in New York City on Saturday after vowing to disrupt the Christmas holiday as a means of encouraging people to join the largely anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The groups, including radical liberal groups People's Forum and Palestinian Youth Movement, organized the protests, which drew huge crowds to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, which disrupted traffic and doubtless left numerous already-panicked last minute shoppers disgruntled at the disruption.

Still, this was the groups' explicit goal, as they intended to ensure that there would be no Christmas "as usual" as long as people continue to support Israel. Apparently believing that ruining people's Christmas was a good way to generate public support for their cause, groups such as 'Mothers for Justice in Palestine' and the Long Island chapter of the 'Party for Socialism and Liberation' joined in the march.

The protesters were seen unfurling banners targeting companies that do business with Israel in an attempt to intimidate them into boycotts of the only democracy in the Middle East.

Users took to social media to document the marching crowds.

#NOW Hundreds Pro-Palestine Protesters marching through 5th Ave in Manhattan for "NO CHRISTMAS AS USUAL" protest, as streets are filled with holiday shoppers.\n\nVideo by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 Desk@freedomnews.tv to license
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\xf0\x9f\x9a\xa8JUST IN - Thousands of Pro-Palestine protestors took to the streets of Manhattan's 5th Avenue for a protest themed "NO CHRISTMAS AS USUAL". As the streets are filled with holiday shoppers as well. \n\nWhy do people always get mad when people say that Christmas is under attack\xe2\x80\xa6
— (@)

Some of the protesters carried banners with pictures of President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu covered in blood.

#BREAKING: HUNDREDS GATHER IN NYC NEAR CENTRAL PARK, 5TH AVE FOR 'NO XMAS AS USUAL IN A GENOCIDE' PROTEST. STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE AND CALLING FOR LIBERATION. #NYC #NewYork
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A small group of pro-Israel counterprotesters showed up and faced hostility from the larger crowds.

\xf0\x9f\x9a\xa8NOW: Small Crowd of Outnumbered Jews STANDS UP!\n\nWe are .2% of the world\xe2\x80\x99s population. \nWe will always be outnumbered. \n\n\xe2\x80\x9cNever Again\xe2\x80\x9d is our motto and we won\xe2\x80\x99t be backing down. \n\nAM YISRAEL CHAI!!!!!!\n\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\xf0\x9f\x87\xae\xf0\x9f\x87\xb1\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\xf0\x9f\x92\xaa\n\nNYC - 5th Ave\n\n\xf0\x9f\x91\x89Follow for more news for Jews and allies
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This marked the second time in less than a week that New York City was disrupted by Hamas protests. Earlier this week crowds of Hamas sympathizers clogged mass transit hubs, causing major disruptions throughout the city.

Georgia AG tells Atlanta media to stop referring to rioters as 'protesters': 'Peaceful protesters use words ... rioters set police cars on fire'



Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr told media members in Atlanta to stop referring to the "Cop City" rioters as "protesters" amid lawlessness in the city this weekend.

"To the Atlanta Media: Peaceful protestors use words. Rioters smash windows, set police cars on fire & shoot law enforcement officers" Carr tweeted Saturday. "Stop calling these people protesters."

\u201cTo the Atlanta Media:\n\nPeaceful protestors use words.\n\nRioters smash windows, set police cars on fire & shoot law enforcement officers.\n\nStop calling these people protesters.\n\n@FOX5Atlanta @ajc @wsbtv @11Alive @gpbnews \n@GBI_GA @ga_dps @AtlantaPolice\u201d
— Chris Carr (@Chris Carr) 1674345372

Carr issued hashtags linked to local stations WAGA-TV, WSB-TV, WXIA-TV, GPB News, as well as to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper.

What's the background?

Multiple videos showed rioting Saturday amid a protest over a fatal police shooting at the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center nicknamed "Cop City." Activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran — who called himself "Tortuguita" — allegedly shot a Georgia State Patrol trooper, after which, law enforcement returned fire, killing Teran, who was 26.

The protest for Teran turned violent within an hour as rioters launched fireworks and threw large rocks at the Atlanta Police Foundation building in downtown Atlanta. Two police cruisers were set on fire, bricks were thrown at other APD vehicles, and windows of local businesses were smashed.

\u201cBREAKING: #COPCITY protesters throw rocks at Atlanta Police Foundation building in downtown Atlanta. They also set off fireworks and spray painted the building. #ATL #BREAKING #NOW @FOX5Atlanta\u201d
— Billy Heath III (@Billy Heath III) 1674341983


\u201cBREAKING: @Atlanta_Police vehicle burns in downtown Atlanta, police are working urgently to clear the streets of #COPCITY protesters. Very chaotic scene unfolding right now. #BREAKING #ATL #NEWS #NOW @FOX5Atlanta\u201d
— Billy Heath III (@Billy Heath III) 1674342830

What did media outlets do?

Media outlets, while acknowledging the rioting, still emphasized that the protest began as "peaceful."

NPR, for example, wrote that "the initial hour of the demonstration had been peaceful ..."

A WAGA-TV reporter — narrating during a live video showing a vehicle fire raging in the background — said "it was a largely peaceful protest":

\u201cLocal Atlanta reporter calls the protest in Atlanta "largely peaceful protest" as a police cruiser is on fire in the background.\n\nYou can't make this stuff up.\u201d
— Largely peaceful protest 3sidedstory \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 (@Largely peaceful protest 3sidedstory \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2) 1674350437

Freelance journalist David Peisner raised the question to CNN — as videos of the chaos in Atlanta flashed onscreen — if property destruction can be considered violence.

"I think that there’s a real blurring of the lines in the use of the word 'violence.' Is property destruction violence? To some people it certainly is. But, you know, this idea that breaking windows or other acts of property destruction are the same as actual violence against humans, it’s kind of a dangerous and slippery concept," Peisner said.

He continued: "Look, I don't think this is a smart move. I don't think it's a productive move from the standpoint of the protesters, but as the chief himself said, this is a small group ... you keep using these words ‘violent, violent, violent, violent' ... the only acts of violence against people that I saw were actually police tackling protesters."

\u201cCNN is still bringing on dummies simping for ANTIFA and their violence \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d
— ULTRATHEY (@ULTRATHEY) 1674404909

Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted Saturday that "violence and unlawful destruction of property are not acts of protest. They are crimes that will not be tolerated in Georgia and will be prosecuted fully."

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Video: 'Cop City' chaos erupts in Atlanta when rioters set police cars on fire, launch fireworks, hurl rocks



Explosive video shows a riot breaking out in Atlanta following a protest against fatal police shooting at the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that has been nicknamed "Cop City."

On Wednesday, police fatally shot activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran. The 26-year-old staged a protest at the future site of a planned public safety training center to be constructed in a southeast Atlanta forest.

Teran – who called himself "Tortuguita" – reportedly refused to comply with law enforcement, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Teran allegedly shot a Georgia State Patrol Trooper at Intrenchment Creek Park. Other law enforcement officers returned fire, struck Teran, and killed him.

Protests against the police shooting were organized for downtown Atlanta at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Protesters held signs that read: "They Can’t Kill Us All” and “Trees Give Life, Police Take It.” There were also chants of "Stop Cop City" and "If they build it, we will burn it."

However, the event of about 300 participants turned violent within an hour.

Rioters launched fireworks and threw large rocks at the Atlanta Police Foundation building in downtown Atlanta. Two police cruisers were set on fire and other APD vehicles had bricks thrown at them. Windows of local businesses were smashed during the riot revolving around the "Cop City" controversy.

\u201cBREAKING: #COPCITY protesters throw rocks at Atlanta Police Foundation building in downtown Atlanta. They also set off fireworks and spray painted the building. #ATL #BREAKING #NOW @FOX5Atlanta\u201d
— Billy Heath III (@Billy Heath III) 1674341983


\u201cBREAKING: @Atlanta_Police vehicle burns in downtown Atlanta, police are working urgently to clear the streets of #COPCITY protesters. Very chaotic scene unfolding right now. #BREAKING #ATL #NEWS #NOW @FOX5Atlanta\u201d
— Billy Heath III (@Billy Heath III) 1674342830
\u201cBREAKING: A crime scene has been established in Atlanta as cops work to secure a perimeter around two vandalized PD vehicles. One fully engulfed in flames, another has a smashed windshield. This is a rapidly developing situation, we\u2019ll have updates on @FOX5Atlanta #COPCITY #ATL\u201d
— Billy Heath III (@Billy Heath III) 1674344028
\u201cHere are some pictures from the @WellsFargo along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. A witness tells me a group handed him a stop "cop city" flier, and then he saw them smash several windows. There's still a heavy police presence in the area. @11AliveNews\u201d
— Dawn White (@Dawn White) 1674349270


\u201cAs police showed up the crowd split in mostly two directions with the largest chunk of people able to move away from police presence. After the majority of arrests took place we noticed one of the cop cars smashed up was also lit ablaze.\u201d
— Garrison Davis (or just Gare) (@Garrison Davis (or just Gare)) 1674340552

Several rioters were arrested.

The Atlanta Police Department issued a statement on the violence:

The Atlanta Police Department is aware of the ongoing events, and we will continue to monitor them and address accordingly. We stand ready to respond to demonstrations to ensure the safety of those in our communities and those exercising their first amendment right, or to address illegal activity, should the need arise.

The office of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement:

The governor remains well informed of the situation through regular updates from state law enforcement and is actively monitoring the situation. State patrol is well equipped to respond to any and all threats to public safety and is coordinating closely with other state agencies and local PD. While the state continues to respect peaceful protest, acts of violence against person or property will NOT be tolerated. Those committing such unlawful acts will be arrested and prosecuted fully.

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