Pro-Palestinian ‘Ceasefire Now’ Sit-In on NYC’s Bustling Fifth Avenue Blocks Traffic, More than 100 Arrested

New York City police on Friday arrested over 150 pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked busy Fifth Avenue to make their call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 

The NYPD arrested the protesters for sitting in the middle of the famous thoroughfare, one of the city's busiest, the New York Post reported.

A video posted by 1010 WINS news reporter, Darius Radzius, showed police arresting protesters who refused to leave after being ordered by officers to do so.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) of New York City were the organizers of the demonstrations that took off from Bryant Park at 5 p.m. ET. 

Protesters chanting “cease-fire now” then stopped at the New York Public Library steps before marching to Senator Kristin Gillibrand's Midtown office.

DSA said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that those arrested were taken away on buses.

“150+ New Yorkers are being arrested for demanding ceasefire in Gaza! Our movement won’t stand by while our government bankrolls war crimes. It’s time to end the blockade, send in humanitarian aid, and build a just & lasting peace. #CeasefireNow! DSA tweeted Friday night.

Over 4,000 Palestinian civilians have died and more than 12,000 others have been injured in airstrikes that Israel launched in Gaza in retaliation for the attacks by the militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, which killed 1,400 Israelis and injured at least 2,700 others. Hamas fighters also took around 150 Israelis hostages.

Pro-Israel and pro-Palestnians protests broke out citywide over the past two weeks, calling for the release of Israeli hostages and to stop the Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip where over 2 million civilians live.

Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas have so far leveled multiple residential buildings to the ground and one of the city's oldest churches. A hospital was also blasted during the fight, killing over 500 people.