Radical Groups Plan Oct. 7 Protests Worldwide, Including in NYC

Activist groups are preparing to hold 262 protests in 37 countries on October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. Approximately 45 of these events are scheduled to take place within the United States, with New York City being a focal point for planned demonstrations.

These planned rallies aim to commemorate the initial attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, many of whom were civilians. The author of the source material characterizes these planned protests as celebrations of the perpetrators of the violence. Flyers for some of these rallies reportedly include slogans such as "Glory to martyrs, victory to the resistance" and feature symbols associated with Hamas.

In New York City, organizers describe the planned events as marking an "international day of joyful celebration of the butchers who carried out the initial attack." Several activist organizations, including Students for Justice in Palestine and Within Our Lifetime, are reportedly involved in organizing the New York City demonstration. The protests are scheduled to occur in numerous cities globally, with significant numbers planned near Israeli government offices, such as embassies and consulates, raising concerns about potential confrontations.

Some groups behind these events are reportedly criticizing local political figures for not taking stronger stances against Israel. In New York City, a coalition of radicals reportedly expressed disappointment with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of insufficient commitment to the elimination of Israel. They cited his inability to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit for the UN General Assembly, a move that was legally impossible due to the U.S. not recognizing the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction on its soil. Additionally, Mamdani's past actions, such as skipping the annual Salute to Israel parade, are cited by some as evidence of his stance.

Funding for groups involved in anti-Israel activism has also drawn scrutiny. The mayor's office has allocated significant funding to programs aimed at combating hate, with some of these funds reportedly directed to organizations with a history of anti-Israel activity, such as the Arab-American Association of New York, which was previously led by Linda Sarsour, a figure described as a long-time critic of Israel and a former mentor to Mamdani.