Pro-Palestinian protests march through NYC, as world marks 1 year since Oct. 7 attack on Israel
NEW YORK -- It has been one year since Hamas terrorists attacked hundreds of Israeli citizens, sparking a war that has left much of the Palestinian Territory destroyed.
Thousands of people are gathering Monday in cities around the world to honor the more than 1,200 people killed and 250 taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. Israel says roughly 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, including seven Americans.
Over the weekend, marches and demonstrations also took over streets around the globe in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Many of the thousands killed were civilians caught in Israel's counterattack on Hamas.
Protesters in Paterson, New Jersey demanded the United States and other countries stop supplying weapons to Israel.
"No one achieves anything in this war," Queens resident Aqeel al-Saedi said. "We don't need for anyone's life -- Jewish, Christian, Muslim -- to be taken off. We need all gathering to stop this craziness."
Pain and anger in New York City
Pro-Palestinian protester Anas Shuaib didn't mince words when he spoke to CBS News New York's Mahsa Saeidi.
"Israeli life is cheap. Palestinian life is cheap," Shuaib said. "My grandparents have been in the West Bank their whole lives. If they get thrown out, they can't start over again."
The protest was organized by Nerdeen Kiswani of Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian community organization.
"A little Palestinian girl in my village, a distant relative, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers," Kiswani said.
On social media, organizers said to "call out of work and school," and by mid afternoon the Palestinian flag was draped down, just steps from the New York Stock Exchange, making it difficult for some to get to work.
On the outside of the protest, there were dozens of NYPD officers in riot gear ready to step in if they needed to. Police later said seven people were taken into custody -- two received summonses, and five were arrested.
Tensions remained high as the two sides clashed with each other, and news crews.
"That's filthy, you want to talk with a baby killer," one protester said as they stopped our interview with a counter-protester.
The NYPD said there have been more than 4,000 protests in the past year. The marches, city officials said, have shut down bridges and slowed traffic, sometimes crossing the line from protest to antisemitism.
The plan on Monday was for demonstrators to be at Grand Central Terminal at the height of rush hour.
"I mean, every single time we've announced Grand Central, the NYPD are actually the ones who shut it down," Kiswani said. "For us, we're trying to get as much visibility as possible."
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it will have additional security measures at Grand Central, Times Square, Penn Station and Columbus Circle.
Walkout held at Columbia University
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on the steps of Low Library on Monday afternoon following a student walkout at Columbia University. Near the same location, pro-Israel students waving Israeli flags gathered near a display of giant milk cartons showcasing the identities of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists.
"It was us trying to tell a story. Nothing to do with Palestinians, or just tell the story of people that were massacred," one pro-Israel student said. "It needs to be a time for humanity, not a time to protest, not a time to divide."
Pro-Palestinian students were later seen taking over the 110th Street subway station heading to Wall Street. Monday's walkout was part of a citywide Students Flood NYC for Gaza protest also organized by Within Our Lifetime.
At Columbia's Morningside campus, officials say heightened campus and building restrictions will remain until Wednesday.
According to Interim President Katrina Armstrong, the walkout was not registered through nor sanctioned by the university.
"I'm not surprised. I know the university wants to not get their hands dirty with these things," a pro-Palestinian student said. "It's disappointing and sad to see that they haven't been supporting both sides as I would hope."
Back in August, Minouche Shafik resigned as president of Columbia University, just months after the institution was rocked by campus protests over the war in Gaza.
Students say life on campus has not been the same since last year.
"The security is incredibly intense and it's only getting more intense as the time's gone on. It's incredibly difficult and quite threatening," Hope Talbot said.
Later Monday, a Jewish and Israeli October 7th Commemoration will be held inside Lerner Hall.