Pro-Palestine protester climbs statue in Union Square before being removed by police.
A significant pro-Palestine demonstration took place on the afternoon of May 15, 2025, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals and the removal of a man who ascended a statue of George Washington in Union Square. According to reports from a police source, the march, organized by the activist group Within Our Lifetime, commenced at Cadman Plaza West in Brooklyn around 4 p.m. Participants made their way across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, ultimately reaching Union Square at approximately 7 p.m.
The protest attracted roughly 500 attendees, who gathered at Union Square to express their views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East. During the event, an unidentified man climbed to the top of the 26-foot statue of George Washington situated on the south side of the park. While perched atop the statue, he vocally expressed his sentiments regarding world peace, declaring that he would not descend until there was peace in the Middle East, Ukraine, and India.
Emergency services responded promptly to the unusual situation, deploying a cherry picker forklift to safely bring the individual down from the statue. Witnesses reported that he continued to shout his message while clinging to the statue’s head until law enforcement officials could wrestle him down. Following his removal, the man did not engage further with the gathered crowd and was placed into a police vehicle. According to officers on the scene, the man stated that it was his birthday, which added a peculiar twist to his method of celebration.
Earlier in the day, as tensions escalated during the protest, police arrested seven individuals. While these arrests were confirmed by a police source, specific details regarding the nature of the charges or the conditions leading to the arrests were not immediately available from the New York Police Department (NYPD). The demonstration reflects ongoing public interest and concern regarding international conflicts, particularly amidst heightened tensions in various regions across the globe.
As the situation continues to evolve, the impact of public demonstrations such as this one underscores the complex interplay between activism, law enforcement, and the wider discourse surrounding pressing global issues. Media News Source will continue to monitor developments related to this event and similar protests in the future.
