NEW YORK — New York police said Saturday they arrested 34 people following a pro-Palestine protest at the Brooklyn Museum that reported damage to some artwork and harassment of security personnel by demonstrators.
Hundreds of protesters marched to the museum Friday afternoon, he set up tents in the atrium and unfurled a “Free Palestine” banner on the roof of the building before police entered to make arrests.
New York City Police Officers addressed and punched some protesters during fights that broke out in the crowd outside the museum, while some protesters threw plastic bottles at police officers and shouted insults. Other protesters held banners, waved Palestinian flags and sang loudly on the steps of the large Fine Arts museum, which is the second largest in the city.
Municipal police said that of the 34 people detained, six were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to assault. Another 23 were released after receiving fines or summonses for misdemeanors including trespassing, graffiti, property damage and resisting arrest. Police did not say what happened to the remaining five people.
Museum spokesperson Taylor Maatman said in a statement that the museum closed an hour early due to concerns about the safety of people and art collections.
“Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and recently installed artwork in our plaza, and our public safety personnel were physically and verbally harassed,” Maatman said.
The demonstration began on Friday afternoon, across the street from the Barclays Center, home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. The protesters, playing drums and singing, headed to the museum, about a mile away.
Organizers, including the group Within Our Lifetime, called on supporters to “flood” and “vacate” the museum, saying they wanted to take over the building until authorities “ disclose and divest ”from any investments linked to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Videos posted on social media showed guards at the museum trying to protect your doors against the growing crowd and protesters who find other ways to get in.
Within Our Lifetime posted on social media that its president, Nerdeen Kiswani, was “targeted and violently arrested” by the police.
New York City has seen hundreds of street demonstrations since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.
The Brooklyn Museum is located on the outskirts of Crown Heights, which is home to one of the city’s largest Orthodox Jewish communities.
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