New York City prepares for New Years celebration protestors

New York City is preparing for protestors during its New Year’s celebrations, officials said at a press conference Friday.

“[T]he groups that have regularly protested, in regards to Israel-Palestine, have been 1,000 to 5,000 on occasion, and we're prepared for ‘em at any number,” New York Police Department (NYPD) Assistant Chief John Hart said. “We're prepared for different groups from different places and we will make sure this event stays safe and peaceful.”

Last week, pro-Palestinian protestors took to the streets on “Super Saturday” en masse, protesting on the day before Christmas Eve, which is often a time shoppers try to pick up last-minute gifts before the holidays.

The “Shut it Down for Palestine” movement, made up of pro-Palestinian groups, had plans to “organize actions to boycott, disrupt, and rally at commercial centers on Dec. 23,” according to the website of the ANSWER Coalition activist group. 

“The genocidal Israeli assault on Gaza is continuing with incredible cruelty,” the activist group’s website read. “This Christmas, occupation forces are sniping Christians sheltering in their besieged churches in Gaza and Christians in Bethlehem have declared that their celebrations are canceled. People everywhere must continue to declare that there can be no Christmas as usual during a genocide!”

Posts on social media appeared to show large pro-Palestinian protests in cities like New York City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles and Toronto. In one clip, protesters in New York City appeared to be chanting, “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping.”