Protesters ‘Celebrate’ Hamas Massacre Across US

A day meant to remember one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern Israeli history erupted into controversy across the United States on Wednesday as anti-Israel demonstrators flooded streets and college campuses, chanting inflammatory slogans on the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre.

From New York City to California, protesters gathered on the anniversary of the 2023 terrorist attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead and saw 251 others taken hostage.

But while grieving families honored their loved ones, some demonstrators were heard shouting slogans including “Globalize the intifada” and “Long live the intifada,” igniting fresh concerns about antisemitism and political extremism on American campuses.

In New York City, hundreds of protesters converged outside City Hall, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans criticizing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The demonstration unfolded just hours after students at New York University staged a walkout associated with a campaign organizers called “Week of Rage.”

At Columbia University, demonstrators gathered near the campus gates, where increased security has become a familiar sight following years of bitter disputes over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to Fox News, protesters associated with the Columbia Intifada movement used megaphones to chant “Globalize the intifada.” Columbia has previously said the group is not officially affiliated with the university.

The phrase has become particularly controversial because the Arabic word “intifada,” meaning uprising, is also associated with periods of deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence, including suicide bombings and attacks against civilians.

Some activists argue that the slogan represents resistance to Israeli policies. Critics warn that its use can appear to endorse violence, especially when shouted on the anniversary of a terrorist massacre.

The controversy intensified as protesters in Manhattan confronted supporters of Israel, requiring New York City police officers to intervene in at least one confrontation outside City Hall.

The demonstrations also placed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a politically uncomfortable position.

Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, marked the anniversary by expressing sympathy for those mourning the October 7 victims while also condemning what he described as Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

But that approach did little to quiet the dispute.

Some pro-Palestinian activists gathered near City Hall to criticize the mayor for what they consider insufficient action against Israel, underscoring growing disagreements within the city’s progressive movement.

Meanwhile, demonstrations were also organized on California campuses.

At UCLA, Students for Justice in Palestine mobilized demonstrators at Bruin Plaza. At the University of California, Davis, activists reportedly invoked the name Hamas used for its October 7 attack and circulated messages praising resistance.

For many Americans watching the events unfold, the timing raised a troubling question: Why were demonstrations involving such inflammatory rhetoric taking place on the very anniversary when families were remembering loved ones murdered or kidnapped by Hamas?

The October 7, 2023, assault began when Hamas-led terrorists crossed into southern Israel, attacking communities, military positions and the Nova music festival.

Entire families were devastated. Civilians were killed in their homes, and hundreds of hostages were taken into Gaza.

The assault triggered a devastating war that has also killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced much of Gaza’s population.

Pro-Palestinian organizers say their demonstrations are intended to draw attention to that suffering and demand accountability for Israel’s military actions.

However, critics argue that commemorating October 7 with slogans associated with violent uprisings crosses a disturbing line between political protest and the glorification of terrorism.

The dispute has also revived concerns about the safety of Jewish students and community members, particularly at universities that have struggled to balance free expression with protection against harassment.

Dr. Orli Peter, a trauma psychologist who works with people affected by the October 7 attack, criticized the timing of the demonstrations in comments to Fox News, arguing that the protests interfere with the mourning of Jewish families.

Elsewhere in New York, memorial gatherings brought together residents determined to ensure the victims were not forgotten.

The contrast was striking: candlelight vigils and solemn remembrances taking place in the same city as demonstrations filled with angry slogans and fierce political accusations.

And the controversy may not be over.

Additional demonstrations have been organized for the coming weekend, including a planned gathering at Washington Square Park.

Three years after the Hamas attack shocked the world, Wednesday’s events showed just how deeply the conflict continues to divide Americans.

The First Amendment protects peaceful political demonstrations, including protests against foreign governments. But the growing controversy surrounding the language used at some of these gatherings raises broader questions about political rhetoric, campus leadership and the boundary between protest and intimidation.

For the families still grieving October 7, however, the anniversary remains about something far more personal than political slogans.

It is about remembering the people who never came home.