Dozens arrested protesting on Yom Kippur
At least 56 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested last Thursday, when over 1,000 protesters blocked traffic in a march across the Brooklyn Bridge.
The demonstration, held on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in Judaism, was organized by “Rabbis for Ceasefire,” a group of rabbis and rabbinical students. The organization was founded in October 2023 to advocate for “ending Israel’s siege of Gaza, realizing an arms embargo and ensuring a future for Palestinians on their land.”
Demonstrators convened around 3:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, where rabbis led a Yizkor — a memorial prayer read for the deceased that is recited on Jewish holidays — and celebrated by fasting, abstinence and prayer.
“This Yom Kippur, though our grief, outrage and despair, let us turn our most holy of holy days into a mass mourning, collective atonement and dignified action,” the group wrote on their website.
Protesters then marched to the bridge, where some sat down, locked arms and sang in Hebrew. The New York City Police Department, which subsequently began its arrests, said the protesters blocked all lanes of traffic on the bridge for one hour, as reported by ABC News.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander denounced Israeli authorities during his speech at the demonstration.
“We must today take collective responsibility for what the Israeli government has been doing, is doing today, on Yom Kippur,” Lander said. “Over 65,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and children, whole families wiped out, food used as a weapon.”
The NYPD has not yet signified whether protesters have been released from custody or if they will face criminal charges.
Planes collide at LaGuardia Airport
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a “low-speed collision” at LaGuardia Airport Wednesday night between two Endeavor Air flights, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary.
Endeavor Flight 5155 was departing with 32 passengers and struck the fuselage of Flight 5047, which had just landed with 61 passengers at the intersection of two taxiways. The right wing of the departing flight was clipped in the collision, while the arriving flight’s windscreen and nose were damaged.
One flight attendant reportedly sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital after being treated by EMTs on sight. Police officers and firefighters inspected the scene and passengers were able to disembark after around two hours, with no impact to the airport’s operations. The unharmed passengers were placed on shuttle buses and provided hotel rooms and new flights for the next day.
Around the same time departing Flight 5155 was heading to its gate, a preliminary statement sent out by the Federal Aviation Agency revealed that “air traffic control instructed Flight 5155 to hold short and yield to the other aircraft,” which might have caused miscommunication about which flight needed to yield. Flight recorders from both airplanes have been sent to NTSB headquarters for an in-depth analysis.
The collision came 24 hours after the government shutdown that furloughed federal workers and subjected many to work without pay, including air traffic controllers. Its effects will resume until the White House and Congress reach a consensus regarding budget disagreements.
Trump pulls billions from NYC transportation initiatives
Hours after Wednesday’s government shutdown, the Trump administration announced that it is withholding $18 billion in funding from two New York City transportation projects.
The most local project is the Second Avenue subway line’s expansion into East Harlem, which will cost nearly $2 billion to execute. The initial phase of the project opened in 2017 and the digging of the new tunnel was slated for 2027. The subway would have started serving riders in 2032, but with the sudden withdrawal of funding, its construction could take much longer.
The Gateway Program project, which will construct a new commuter tunnel that connects New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, is also facing setbacks. The $16 billion project will replace the existing train system that runs under the Hudson River and is the largest funded mass-transit project in the country.
The Trump administration said it was withholding funds to ensure they are not being implementing “unconstitutional DEI principles.”
Although federal funding for all transit-related projects is vulnerable amid the government shutdown, the New York City’s projects were the first to face massive delays. The move aims to pressure House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who have both clashed with Republicans over the dispersal of federal funds.
“That royally screws commuters,” Schumer wrote on X. “Obstructing these projects is stupid and counterproductive because they create tens of thousands of great jobs and are essential for a strong regional and national economy.”
Contact Leena Ahmed at [email protected].