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Furious Alec Baldwin clashes with anti-Israel mob in NYC after protesters accused him of 'genocide' and taunted him over on-set Rust shooting

1 year ago 29

Actor Alec Baldwin was entangled in a confrontation at a pro-Palestine protest in Manhattan Monday evening, telling one protestor to 'shut the f*** up' before he was led away by police.

Baldwin, 56, was spotted amid a crowd near West 29th Street. In video posted to social media, one protestor shoved a phone in the actor's face, demanding whether he supported Israel.

'Because I'm in Hollywood?' Baldwin responded. 'You ask stupid questions. Ask me a smart question.'

Another voice in the crowd began to shout 'Who the f*** do you think you are?' and 'Go f*** yourself.'

'Shut the f*** up,' Baldwin barked as he was led away by police. 

'Stop crying! Stop crying!' he shouted as protestors continued to accost him, before pointing a finger indiscriminately at the crowd and saying: 'I want peace for Gaza, though.'

It is unclear who initiated the confrontation and whether Baldwin was part of the march organized by Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian-led community organization that has been active in New York City since 2015.

A flyer advertising the event proclaimed 'No school, no work, no shopping' and urged demonstrators to 'bring banners, bullhorns, and Bluetooth speakers.'

Protestors packed into the main concourse at Grand Central Monday afternoon, waving Palestine flags and cheering, in an effort to draw attention to their cause.

The demonstration was part of the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions  (BDS) campaign, which aims to 'put pressure on Israel to comply with international law and to persuade private companies to end their participation in Israel’s crimes.'

Baldwin, 56, was spotted amid a crowd near West 29th Street. In video posted to social media, one protestor shoved a phone in the actor's face, demanding whether he supported Israel

Pro-Palestine advocates packed into the main concourse at Grand Central before moving through Manhattan and targeting other major transit hubs

The march was organized by Within Our Lifetime, a Palestinian-led community organization

The campaign has accused a handful of companies of 'profiting from Israel's crimes,' some of which provide financial support to Israeli banks or the military.

NYPD officers milled about the crowd and blocked off routes in the terminal, including a passage leading to Vanderbilt Hall.

The crowd moved onto 42nd Street, with some protestors carrying signs reading 'Support Palestinian resistance' and 'From Gaza to Jenin, revolution until victory.'

A chant started up as they milled past Zara on 5th Avenue: 'Zara, Zara, you can't hide! You're supporting genocide!'

The fast fashion brand came under fire last year after the head of the retailer's local franchise in Israel hosted a campaign event for an ultranationalist politician. 

The company again faced backlash last week for a campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white bags. The ads were deemed insensitive and callous amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Although the photos were taken in September, a month before the war began, it was heavily denounced by netizens for its perceived tone-deafness.

The protestors reached Times Square, hoisting their flags high. Upon reaching the New York Times building, a new chant began: 'Every time the media lies, a neighborhood in Gaza dies!'

Protestors displayed signs reading 'Support Palestinian resistance' and 'From Gaza to Jenin, revolution until victory'

Crowds marched into Times Square, banging drums and chanting

Along the way, demonstrators chanted in defiance of brands like Zara and Starbucks

The march then moved to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, where police had set up barricades on the sidewalk.

Some protestors banged on the windows of a nearby Starbucks, trying to get the attention of people sitting inside as cops stood nearby.

While the company is not on the official BDS boycott list, it has found itself caught in the crosshairs after its workers' union sent out a social media post in support of Palestine a few weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack.

The company sued Starbucks Workers United, alleging trademark infringement. The union countersued, asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to rule that it can continue using its name and similar logo.

The company also distanced itself from the union's pro-Palestinian stance through a statement that read: 'We unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members.'

The crowd finally reached Penn Station, where police barricaded both the elevators and opening to the street.

Protestors filed through Moynihan Train Hall, shouting: 'Israel bombs! USA pays! How many kids did you kill today?'

They gathered for a moment of prayer at the station, laying down flags and bowing their heads as NYPD officers encircled them.

The crowds passed Madison Square Park, closely followed by officers on bicycles, and quickly turned onto 7th Avenue.

It was there that police began to infiltrate the crowd. Social media video showed one officer walking up to a teenage boy wearing a keffiyeh scarf and shouting in his ear as police began to grab and shove other protestors.

One youth in a brown sweatshirt was pinned against a nearby window and handcuffed. He was taken to a black truck sitting nearby, where officers on bicycles formed a circle, preventing other demonstrators from reaching him.

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