NYC Erupts in Protests in Schools and Streets

Photo byHuzaifah PatelonUnsplash

In support of a ceasefire in Gaza, hundreds of parents, teachers, and students from New York City's public schools staged a walkout on Thursday. Along with demanding a ceasefire, the students and faculty who left Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn also said they were demanding an end to US backing for Israel.

At 11:30 a.m., they left their classes.

Participating in the walkout are at least 75 public high schools in New York City.

Families, teachers, and students from throughout New York City came together for what they call a day of action. Many student organizations are participating in "The Schools Out for #CeasefireNOW" day of action. Teachers, staff, and other school employees are also taking part.

NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks said in a letter dated Wednesday that employees in New York City public schools must keep their political opinions "separate from" their work.

Although he acknowledged that workers had the right to voice their opinions in their own time and space, he insisted that nothing they say or do outside of work should "disrupt" their ability to do their job.

Thousands of students walked out and met at a rally in Bryant Park.

Additional protests calling for an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire closed down Manhattan that same night. Also on Thursday night, pro-Palestinian protestors took over the New York Times lobby, calling for an immediate end to the attacks in Gaza and accusing the media of favoring Israel in its reporting on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

According to CNN, Israel has told the US that there will be four-hour pauses in military actions in specific areas. The timing of the pauses will be disclosed three hours before they begin.

On Thursday, spokesman for the National Security Council John Kirby described the decision to permit four-hour breaks as a constructive "first step" toward alleviating the humanitarian situation in Gaza. “We’ve been told by the Israelis that there will be no military operations in these areas throughout the pause and that this process is starting today,” Kirby said, calling it “steps in the right direction.”