The White House strongly condemned pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah protesters who flew flags featuring the terrorist organizations' emblems in the streets of New York City on Labor Day.
“As President Biden and Vice President Harris have stated, there is absolutely no room for the venom of anti-Semitism in America, and they and the entire Biden-Harris Administration condemn any individuals associated with the abhorrent terrorist organization Hamas,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement Monday evening. Bates added that the protests carrying the terrorist organization's flag were “particularly heinous” given that they took place on the same day as the funeral of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Pollin, one of the bodies of six Hamas hostages discovered by Israeli forces over the weekend.
“It is particularly egregious to show support for Hamas on the same day as the funeral of innocent American hostages that Hamas brutally murdered. Now is the time for all Americans to unite against anti-Semitism and the sickening hatred and evil that Hamas represents,” Bates said.
Hamas terrorists release video of six slain hostages, promise to deliver 'final message'
An anti-Israel protester at the Democratic National Convention holds up a sign with a small photo of Vice President Kamala Harris and the words “Genocide is Fascism.”
Monday's protest, called “Flood New York for Gaza,” was organized by a group called Within Our Lifetime, which has led large-scale protests in New York since the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas, at times shutting down roads, trains and parts of the airport. Meanwhile, the group's founder, Nadine Kiswani, has called for “Zionists” to be expelled from New York City. Critics have accused the group of being anti-Semitic.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Manhattan's Union Square on Monday before beginning a march to Washington Square Park. Videos of the rally showed participants waving flags of various anti-Israel terrorist organizations, including Hamas.
Anti-Israel demonstrations continued on Tuesday on the Columbia University campus in New York City. (AP/Yuki Iwamura)
'Cowardly and unacceptable': New York progressive Democrats condemn violent anti-Israel protests
“When the people are occupied, resistance is justified,” protesters were heard chanting, according to the New York Post, which reported that four people were ultimately arrested.
The Labor Day protest is not the first time Within Our Lifetime has organized a protest in a location featuring symbols of terrorism: At least two anti-Israel protests were held in New York City in June, where participants waved Hamas flags, carried Hezbollah flags and held up portraits of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza ruler and mastermind behind the Oct. 7 massacre, according to public videos of the protests shared on social media.
At the time, following one of the protests held on Oct. 7 outside an exhibit memorializing those killed at the Nova music festival, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, called the symbols there “pure anti-Semitism.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
An anti-Israel protest takes place in front of Columbia University on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in New York City. (AP/Yuki Iwamura)
“Peaceful New Yorkers cannot stand next to people waving Hamas or Hezbollah flags, especially at an exhibit commemorating the victims of the Nova Music Festival massacre,” the mayor said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Within our Lifetime for comment but did not receive a response.
