NEW YORK (NewsNation) — Hundreds of demonstrators interrupted President Joe Biden’s record-breaking fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, protesting his support for Israel’s war effort against Hamas.
Protesters want to empower Muslim Americans to leverage their vote for the U.S. presidency. The groups’ goal is to ensure that Biden loses swing states by not voting for him, furthering the “Abandon Biden” movement and campaigning against him.
“In the primary, I will not be voting for Joe Biden in the primary. I’m going to leave it blank in New York,” protester Jess told Reuters.
Another protester named Cheryl claimed she’s not voting for Biden either because of the delayed American response to the suffering in Gaza.
“Even if he stops the war right now, just for what the Palestinian people have suffered. I can’t, I can’t,” Cheryl said.
The message of Thursday’s demonstration was “Flood Manhattan for Gaza.”
That’s what protesters tried their best to do outside Radio City Music Hall as Biden’s high-dollar fundraiser was happening inside.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Demonstrators rally before President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the event. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Demonstrators rally before President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the event. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Demonstrators rally before President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the event. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Demonstrators rally before President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the event. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with NYPD officers trying to prevent protestors from standing on a ledge near Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold up a sign outside Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with NYPD officers trying to prevent protestors from standing on a ledge near Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: An arrest is made during a pro-Palestinian march across the street from Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators confront a passerby on the street who verbally argued with them near Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with NYPD officers trying to prevent protestors from standing on a ledge near Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: NYPD officers block Pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside Radio City Music Hall during President Joe Biden’s fundraiser on March 28, 2024 in New York City. Biden will be joined by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at the fundraiser. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian protesters say Gaza continues to suffer and starve at the hands of Democrats and Israel, condemning Biden for his continued support and arming of Israel.
But while pro-Palestinian protesters lined the streets outside, more than 5,000 people — including former President Bill Clinton and former President Barack Obama — were inside the music hall raising more than $26 million for Biden’s reelection campaign.
Clinton and Obama zeroed in on why they were there: to underscore the high stakes of the election and to draw distinct differences between Biden and former President Donald Trump.
“President Trump, let’s be honest, had a pretty good couple of years, because he stole it from Barack Obama,” Clinton said.
The president addressed his supporters on the need for a two-state solution.
“There are too many innocent victims, Israelis and Palestinians. We’ve got to get more food and medicine and supplies to the Palestinians, but you can’t forget, Israel is in a position where its very existence is at stake,” the president said.
All three presidents faced interruptions from protesters inside the music hall while hundreds clashed with the New York Police Department outside. At least one person was arrested.
As Biden met with donors and colleagues, Trump was a few miles away attending the wake for fallen New York City police officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop.
Trump was invited by the Diller family.