Pro-Palestinian Rally Held In Midtown
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered by the hundreds Friday on Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street in Midtown as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues in the Middle East.
As CBS 2's Joe Biermann reported from overhead in Chopper 2, demonstrators could be seen lining Seventh Avenue just south of 42nd Street near Times Square. The rally stretched for several blocks.
Demonstrators called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported.
Demonstrators Hold Pro-Palestinian Rally In Midtown
One demonstrator said they were also protesting what they consider one-sided media coverage favoring the Israelis.
"We always see on the stage Netanyahu, yet we never see any spokesman from Hamas speaking," he said.
The demonstrator told Baumgarten coverage is balancing out a bit thanks to the images coming out of Gaza.
"I am very happy that they started showing some of these images, which they have not shown as much in the past," he said. "So that, I must say, they have started to show it a little more than they have."
Pro-Israel advocates, however, argue that to show the images without including Israel's contention that the victims were human shields tips the coverage in the Palestinian's favor, Baumgarten reported.
Police said the demonstration had been ongoing for several hours ahead of 6 p.m., and that everything had been orderly.
There was a heavy police presence in the area, keeping traffic moving as the Friday evening rush hour continued.
Meanwhile, a 12-hour humanitarian cease-fire was announced in the Mideast, CBS 2 reported. The cease-fire was set to begin at 1 a.m. EST.
However, Secretary of State John Kerry is now headed back to the U.S. after being unable to broker a truce.
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:
