On New Year’s Day, Times Square in New York City became the site of a large-scale demonstration as hundreds gathered to voice their support for a “revolution of resistance.” The event, organized by groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the People’s Forum, featured chants like “Resistance is glorious—we will be victorious” and “Gaza, you make us proud.” Protesters held signs with messages such as “Zionism is a cancer,” “No war on Iran,” and “End all U.S. aid to Israel.”
Tensions flared during the protest, with counter-protesters facing verbal hostility. Some participants directed inflammatory remarks toward Jewish individuals, including statements such as “Germany is your homeland” and threats suggesting Israeli Jews would be sent “back to Europe.”
— Luke Tress (@luketress) January 1, 2025
Earlier that day, a tragic incident unfolded in New Orleans, where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street. The attack claimed the lives of 15 people, including the driver, who was fatally shot by police. Authorities identified the assailant as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
The attack occurred at approximately 3:15 AM and left 35 others injured. According to FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raja, investigators discovered weapons and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in coolers near the scene. Jabbar, a former U.S. Army soldier, served from 2007 to 2015 and later in the Army Reserve until 2020, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Officials revealed that Jabbar had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in social media videos and had left a will prior to the attack.
In a separate incident, chaos struck Las Vegas around the same time. Matthew Livelsberger, 37, targeted the Trump International Hotel by detonating a rented Cybertruck outside the building. Livelsberger, also a military veteran stationed at Fort Bragg during his service, died in the explosion. Fortunately, the vehicle’s armored design contained much of the blast, preventing additional casualties.
— Luke Tress (@luketress) January 1, 2025
Both attacks and the subsequent protests highlight rising tensions and complex issues surrounding political ideologies, veteran reintegration, and public safety in the United States. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to uncover further details about the motives behind these tragic events.
