Crowd gathers on Upper West Side in solidarity with Israel to mark 30 days since Hamas launched attack
NEW YORK -- Thousands gathered on the Upper West Side on Monday night in support of Israel.
The demonstration came as antisemitic crimes continue to rise.
With Stars of David waving overhead, people filled Central Park West in solidarity with Israel.
"As Elie Weisel once said, 'Those who are quiet are complicit,' so I cannot be quiet," demonstrator Andie Yonah said.
Many carried posters of the kidnapped. Monday marked 30 days since Hamas' attack, which killed 1,400 Israelis. More than 200 were taken hostage, according to the IDF, setting off the war.
"I'm first generation American. My family are Holocaust survivors and we saw my grandfathers schul destroyed in Kristallnacht and we can't let this happen again. We can't," demonstrator Adena Rosenthal said.
Speakers at the rally included Sen. Chuck Schumer, actress Debra Messing, and families of some of the hostages.
"We don't know what happened to them. We don't know where they are. We know they're badly wounded," one person said.
Mindy Hecht said she brought her sons so to not shield them from what's happening.
"They're 8 years old. There are 8-year-olds being held by Hamas in Gaza, to understand what's going on there. We all have family who lives in Israel. It could've been any of us," Hecht said.
READ MORE: Netanyahu faces rising anger from within Israel after Hamas attack
Tammie Farkas was in Jerusalem on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas attack.
"I honestly felt safer in Israel than I do here, because there's a violence in the air that is on the loose here. Over there is was on the loose that day, but here it's on the loose every day," Farkas said.
The latest NYPD data shows anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City make up 46% of all the reported hate crimes so far this year. The Anti-Defamation League says antisemitic incidents are up 400% across the U.S.
On Monday, the Manhattan district attorney joined lawmakers in introducing legislation to update state law so more hate crimes can be prosecuted.
"After all the atrocities that happened and all the antisemitism that comes out in the city, it is totally unbelievable and we have to stand for Israel," demonstrator Marty Izaak said.
At the rally, six blocks deep, many said the size of support brought them hope.
"It makes me know, as Jews, we're unified," Rosenthal said.