WATCH: Pro-Palestine protesters rock New York streets, occupy NYT's lobby over 'bias' toward Israel

Demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, pro-Palestinian protestors took over The New York Times lobby, accusing the media of showing bias toward Israel in its coverage of the conflict. Numerous media professionals identifying as “Writers Bloc” lead hundreds of demonstrators who assembled outside the publication’s Manhattan headquarters. Many of them went inside the building’s atrium to participate in a sit-in and vigil that lasts for over an hour. It’s unclear right away if anyone was taken into custody during the sit-in. The Associated Press was able to obtain an email that was sent to New York Times staff members characterizing the protest as “peaceful.” The sit-in is the culmination of several high-profile events at prominent New York sites, such as Grand Central Terminal and the Statue of Liberty, with the goal of bringing to the growing death toll in Gaza.

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters who rallied at the New York Public Library marched to the New York Times office. Protesters are occupying the NYT lobby, claiming the paper “is an agent of US imperialism”. pic.twitter.com/HwenBb1XJE

— Jack Morphet (@JackMorphet) November 9, 2023

Videos and images posted on Social media showed how the group damaged the building’s facade. Outside, the phrases “Free Gaza” and “IDF KKK” were spray painted on New York Police Department vehicles. According to law enforcement sources, there was smoke bomb thrown and ‘Free Palestine’ graffiti defaced on photos taken at a nearby Starbucks. According to reports, about 1,500 pro-Palestine demonstrators arrived in New York City on Thursday. Students, parents, and teachers from New York City high schools staged a walkout protest earlier in the day to demand a ceasefire. Students from Teachers Unite, NYC Educators for Palestine, and the Palestinian Youth Movement organized the walkout, which culminated in a gathering at Bryant Park. “From river to sea, Palestine will be free,” was chanted by the crowds, demanding that the Palestinians annex Israel and all of the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. People have been urged to leave their jobs. People have been urged to leave their schools by walking out. “A lot of people have answered that call,” the Palestinian Youth Movement’s Munir Marwan told CBS New York. The organization is demanding an end to Israeli genocide and a ceasefire. The group assembled at Bryant Park’s New York Public Library before swarming the lobby of the New York Times building. Chanting that the New York Times had “blood on their hands,” protestors urged staff members to step down. Once the police managed to evacuate the building, the demonstrators returned to Bryant Park’s library building. The demonstration on Thursday coincides with the NYPD’s announcement of a 135% increase in hate crimes against Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers since the start of the conflict. October saw 101 hate crimes, with 69 of them targeting Jews. Since September, there has been a 331 percent increase in anti-Semitic crimes, and since October of last year, there has been a 241 percent increase. Eight hate crimes against Muslim New Yorkers have also been reported; this represents an 800% increase from October 2022, when there were zero, and a 700% increase from September.