Following the joint military strike by the United States and Israel against Iran over the weekend, New York City has seen a series of marches and demonstrations taking place. On one side, there were celebrations by the Iranian community in the city, while on the other side, there were so-called “anti-war” protests by non-Iranians. The New York City Police Department stated that despite no credible threats, they are “exercising heightened caution” and enhancing security measures throughout the city.
On Sunday, hundreds of Iranians in New York gathered in midtown Manhattan and Times Square for lively celebratory events. People waved flags of Iran’s lion and sun emblem in red, white, and green alongside American flags, cheering and expressing gratitude towards US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also known as BiBi. Some carried banners advocating for making Iran great again.
In the early hours of last Saturday, the US-Israeli coalition launched one of the most powerful airstrikes in decades against the Iranian Islamic regime, resulting in the death of Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and several high-ranking officials in Tehran.
Iranians in New York passionately denounced the Iranian regime’s killings of civilians in Times Square, some even shared personal stories of relatives, like a high school nephew, being killed. People also criticized mainstream media for not reporting the regime’s mass killings of tens of thousands of people. Many expressed views calling for a separation of religion and government, stating that while they are Iranian, “Islam must not rule the country.” All participants in the celebrations expressed gratitude towards President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, believing that by eliminating Khamenei, they have not only helped the Iranian people but also the world as a whole.
The day after Trump announced the strike against Iran, New York communist organizations like the “People’s Forum” held what they called an “anti-war protest,” condemning US actions. Interestingly, the protest consisted mainly of supporters of Palestine rather than Iranians. One woman interviewed labeled the United States as a “fascist” country, yet when asked how she could freely protest on the streets, she remained speechless. When questioned about the recent killings of tens of thousands of Iranian civilians by the government, she dismissed it as “fake news.”
“The New York City Police Department is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and the Middle East and coordinating with our federal and international partners. In keeping with our practice and exercising heightened caution, we will be increasing patrols at sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites,” stated the NYPD on X platform. “This includes significantly enhancing security measures in all five boroughs and maintaining heightened surveillance at sensitive locations such as the United Nations, religious sites, synagogues, cultural centers, busy transportation hubs, and other symbolic sites.”
Considering the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim on March 3rd and the recent shooting incident in Austin, Texas on March 1st, the NYPD issued another statement reassuring the residents of New York City of their safety: “We will be intensifying patrols at sensitive locations throughout the city. This is due to an escalated threat environment and out of abundance of caution.”
As the conflict continues to unfold, the New York City Police Department and other local officials urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.