Protesters armed with pots and pans made their voices heard during a series of rallies that unfolded in major cities across the United States.
Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters convened outside US Senator Chuck Schumer's office in New York City on a recent Friday, resulting in numerous arrests. Notably, New York City Council Member Tiffany Caban and State Representative Claire Valdez were among those detained. The demonstrators, including members from Jewish Voice for Peace, resorted to banging pots and pans together in a symbolic noise protest.
This demonstration was part of a broader series of protests across major US cities, all occurring on the same day. Jay Saper, a spokesperson for Jewish Voice for Peace, expressed the group's demands to the media, stating, "We are calling on them to let aid in, to stop the bombing and to allow aid into Gaza right now. This starvation crisis in Gaza is at a tipping point, and so we have to raise our voices."
In a related event, a protest took place outside the Egyptian Consulate in New York City, focusing on Egypt's role in the border policy with Gaza. Activists chained themselves to the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations, leading to at least five detentions. The demonstration, organized by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation, aimed to pressure the Egyptian government to end its cooperation with Israel and address the severe food shortages in Gaza.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, another group of activists engaged in a pots and pans protest. Koreatown for Palestine highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza through social media, stating, "Families face famine and children are dying of malnutrition. We will make the people of Koreatown hear the sound of starvation in Gaza."
Protests also targeted media representations with an incident at the New York Times headquarters in Manhattan where protesters accused the publication of misleading coverage with the phrase "NYT lies, Gaza dies" marked on the building’s exterior and red paint smeared over the Times logo.
The advocacy for Gaza has been persistent in various US cities, with organized demonstrations and vigils continuing nearly two years after Israel launched a military campaign in response to Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. These events have included weekly vigils since late 2023, focusing on both protest and providing support for those facing legal or disciplinary consequences.
The movement has also impacted academic settings. Columbia University, for instance, faced significant administrative challenges and legal disputes following the Trump administration’s accusations of allowing antisemitism amid the Gaza protests. The university disciplined over 80 students with measures ranging from suspensions to the revocation of degrees. Recently, Columbia reached a financial agreement with the Trump administration, unlocking $220 million in previously frozen funds. In protest of this agreement, historian Rashid Khalidi canceled his upcoming lecture course, criticizing the deal as a betrayal of academic freedom.