NEW YORK — Anti-Zionist protesters chanted for terrorist groups, accused Israel’s supporters of eating babies and raping children, and chanted for death to Israel and the US at a protest for Al Quds Day in New York City on Friday.
Al Quds Day is an annual, anti-Israel event held on the last Friday of Ramadan, established by Iran in 1979. The protest this year took place during heightened tensions due to the US-Israel war with Iran.
The protest on Friday drew several hundred participants and was backed by leftist and anti-Zionist activist groups, including Pal-Awda, the Bronx Anti-War Coalition and the Workers World Party.
“This Al Quds Day holds a special significance as the United States and its puppet Zionist regime wage full-out war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We proclaim our support for the Islamic Republic,” a speaker said, introducing the event.
“Iran is the central pillar in the struggle against US imperialism and Zionism,” he said. “A war against the Islamic Republic of Iran is a war against anti-imperialism, against anti-occupation, against anti-freedom.”
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“We remind the enemies that martyrdom is our highest honor and the targeting of the leader only strengthens the resolve,” he said. “We renew our pledge to the path of the martyrs.”
The protesters held signs that said, “Victory to Palestinian and Iranian resistance,” “Free America from Israel,” and with pictures of the ayatollahs.
Several signs said, “Israel weaker than a spider’s web,” referring to threats made by Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah before Israel killed him. A child on the stage held up a photo of Iran’s late leader Ali Khamenei.
Around a dozen pro-Israel counter-protesters, Jews and allies, gathered across the street, chanting, “USA,” and shouting, “brainwashed,” and “terrorists.”
Al Quds day protest in Times Square pic.twitter.com/WPygKQ5sgk
— Luke Tress (@luketress) March 14, 2026
One of the speakers directed the anti-Zionist crowd to turn toward the pro-Israel group and led them in chants of, “Stop eating babies, stop raping children.”
The allegation that Jews kill and consume children is based in the medieval, antisemitic blood libel that has ignited mass violence against Jews for centuries. Other anti-Zionist activists have also employed the libel against Israel and its supporters in recent months.
The protesters also repeatedly referred to Jeffrey Epstein, with one protest leader referring to the US as the “Epstein-worshiping pedophile regime.”
Other chants included, “Death to America, death to Israel” in Farsi, “We support Hamas here,” and, “Khaybar, khaybar,” a reference to a Quranic battle against a Jewish tribe. Several demonstrators shouted, “Khaybar, khayar, O Jews,” in Arabic.
NOW: “We Support Hezbollah Here, we support Hamas here” chants at Al-Quds March through Manhattan that started in Times Square NYC
Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 | Licensing @FreedomNTV Desk@freedomnews.tv pic.twitter.com/QleKLs3hh0
— Oliya Scootercaster ???? (@ScooterCasterNY) March 13, 2026
One woman waved a Hezbollah flag and another carried a flag for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group.
Another speaker described “Zionists” as “parasites that have taken over the host’s body.”
“They infiltrated the Oval Office, they infiltrated our legislature, they infiltrated our courts. They’re even trying to take ownership of our media. One single Zionist billionaire is taking ownership of TikTok,” she said.
A speaker from the Bronx Anti-War Coalition heralded the “decolonization of West Asia” in the Iran war.
“This strategic earthquake was triggered by the heroic Al Aqsa Flood,” he said, a reference to the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel.
“We honor the military prowess, the unbreakable spirit of our beloved commanders, martyr Yahya Sinwar, the lion of Gaza, Hassan Nasrallah, and all of the valiant commanders of the IRGC,” he said, to cheers and chants of “allahu akbar.” Sinwar was the late leader of the Hamas terrorist group and the IRGC is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“We stand on the brink of a decisive victory. Let us honor our martyrs, let us carry their rifle,” he said.
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