Disorganized NY Dem rally to endorse Harris infiltrated by anti-Israel protesters who clashed with cops at afterparty
A hastily organized rally supporting Vice President Kamala Harris descended into chaos after anti-Israel protesters infiltrated the Big Apple event — and later barged into an afterparty venue, causing several thousand dollars’ worth of damage to its outdoor space.
Several demonstrators against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza were booted from the Democratic gathering in Harlem, where Mayor Eric Adams gave an impassioned speech.
“Make sure you vote,” Hizzoner chanted as the disrupters were dragged from the tiny venue in Upper Manhattan.
Adams stood with other prominent elected state Democrats, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (who is not related to the mayor) and Gov. Kathy Hochul, as he endorsed the party’s presidential ticket.
“Everyone that’s on this stage right now comes from different political spectrum, we don’t always agree on the same thing,” he said.
“But the ability to know when you are in a real fight … this is the real fight.”
While protesters were escorted out of the main rally, which sources said wasn’t attended by Harris or her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the demonstration took an ugly turn in front of a restaurant where up to 25 attendees stopped afterward.
The angry mob of around 50 protesters even stormed into the restaurant Bird in Hand at Broadway and West 146th Street as stunned patrons looked on, according to footage from the scene.
Other videos showed cops taking rabble-rousers into custody as a crowd circled the police. Whistles and horns sounded, and smoke bombs were also set off during the brouhaha.
One protester appeared to try to swipe at cops with a cardboard sign, leading several officers to grab the demonstrator and arrest her on the sidewalk, more footage showed.
At another point, authorities chased after another on Broadway during a brief encounter. “Free Gaza” was also graffitied on a police car, and an anti-Israel poster with the words “No Votes For Bombala’s Genocide” was briefly plastered on a restaurant window.
At least 14 people were taken into custody, according to police.
Bird in Hand owner Brian Felicetta told The Post he estimated damages to the restaurant’s outdoor seating area were at least a few thousand dollars. He will have a better idea Thursday when he surveys the aftermath.
“It’s my flowers that took the worst of this beating.”
He said a handful of people from the community swung by for an informal dinner after the rally and he suspects some protesters followed the group to the restaurant. He credited police for their quick action — and his staff for handling the situation appropriately.
“Nothing really came of it besides us, a small business, mom-and-pop business in New York, I’m gonna be the one waking up in the morning fixing all this,” Felicetta said.
“Myself and my (business) partner were both born-and-bred New Yorkers, we’re for everybody, so I don’t know what the target or intention was based around this, but it makes no sense to me,” he added.
Before the night descended into chaos, several sources in political circles questioned the mayor’s motivation for being at Wednesday’s rally backing Harris — with one source telling The Post that he must “see his Trump pardon slipping away,” referring to the legal woes which have embroiled Adams and his administration of late.
“It is cute to see an event organized with zero official DNC representation being headlined by Mayor Adams, who to this day refuses to criticize Trump, pretending to be a supporter of the Democratic Party,” they added.
The source also noted that Harris, 59, and Walz, 60, were absent, despite being prominently featured on the event’s flyer — and confusing some who attended the rally. The veep hopeful spoke in Boston on Wednesday.
“I thought they would be here,” one attendee said to a group of people who nodded in agreement before promptly leaving the venue.
Organizer Corey Ortega said Harris and Walz are confident with their support in the state.
“They have to hit other states that require that political presence,” he added.
The hasty rally comes just days before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago.
“I am so energized and so excited about heading off to Chicago and bringing home a victory,” Hochul told the packed room Wednesday night.
