Here in New York City, hundreds of peaceful protesters led by a group of interfaith organizers gathered in midtown Manhattan to demand an end to Israel’s assault on Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian lands, on the occasion of the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Hordes of police officers were deployed to the event as activists ultimately gathered in front of the nearby News Corp building to rally. This is Nerdeen Kiswani of the group Within Our Lifetime.

Nerdeen Kiswani: “We stand here on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in solidarity with Jerusalem’s 13 official churches and the entire municipality of Bethlehem — and the entire municipality of Bethlehem, who have called for mobilization, not celebration.”