Thousands of New Yorkers filled the streets outside the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan on Tuesday evening in a show of support for Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas and following the brutal massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis at their hands.
One attendee, Lauren A, told the JC that she couldn’t remember the last time plaza where the rally was held, was as crowded as it was on Tuesday night, adding that “cars couldn’t even get down Second Avenue”
“Everybody was there” she continued, “students, elderly people, young people.”
In addition to the thousands of people at the rally itself, Lauren recounted seeing people in residential buildings across from the plaza flying Israeli flags out of open windows in support.
Large crowds of high school students attended the event, with buses of students arriving from across the state of New York in order to show support for the Jewish State and its people.
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High school students wave Israeli flags as they arrive at the New York Stands with Israel vigil and rally October 10, 2023 (credit: Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
Throughout the event, members of Chabad stopped men at various intervals, asking if they had put on Tefillin yet, and offering them the opportunity to do so.
As well as being a show of support for Israel, the rally also served as a counter-protest to a celebratory pro-Palestinian event that had been held earlier in the week, during which a Swastika was displayed, among other hateful imagery.
Governor of New York Kathy Hochul addressed the crowds, speaking passionately in support of Israel’s right to defend itself, and condemning the violence being faced both in Israel and across the Jewish Diaspora.
“I stand here to tell you that New Yorkers will never tolerate evil,” Hochul began. “Whether it's committed here in our homeland or in Israel, we will never, ever tolerate evil. In such moments of darkness and cruelty, yes, we are called upon to pray for peace. But justice first.
“There must be justice for the slaughter of babies and children and grandmothers and families torn apart by the horror of what happened to their loved ones. And that's exactly what we're going to continue to do.
“People are experiencing deep, deep pain in our hearts,” she continued. “There are families, there are New York families who don't know the outcome of their loved ones at this point in time. This is not the end. This is just the end of the beginning.
“Because not only will we seek justice, we'll make sure that New Yorkers here in America, in our own state, are safe as well. You can count on our NYPD, our State Police, our Joint Terrorism Task Force. We stand together to protect every single one of you. We'll continue to protect you.”
Touching on the threat faced by US Jewry as a result of the war in Israel, Hochul reassured the crowd that the antisemitism would not be allowed to flourish, and committed to clamping down on any incitement to violence.
“As Governor of the State of New York, I am so proud to govern a state that has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. I'm proud of that. You're proud of that. We are all proud of that. And I'll continue to fight antisemitism every place it rears its ugly head.
“We will defeat evil right here in New York. Let's win this, everyone. Let's stick together. New York stands with Israel.”
Israel appreciates the symbolic gesture of unity as the Empire State Building lights up in blue. In the face of the hard times Israel is currently experiencing, this support means the world to us. 🙏💙 #UnitedWithIsrael pic.twitter.com/D2p2ABLbTY
— Israel in New York (@IsraelinNewYork) October 8, 2023
Earlier this week, the city's iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag in a show of solidarity with the Jewish state.
Following the rally, Hochul ordered all flags on New York State buildings to be flown at half-mast indefinitely, in remembrance of the lives lost as a result of the brutal massacres in Israel.
