On Monday evening (May 7), swathes of celebrities descended on the hallowed Metropolitan Museum steps for the 2024 Met Gala. But as the likes of Zendaya and Kim Kardashian swanned up the red carpet, hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists gathered nearby to protest against Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestine.

Around 6pm, the crowd began marching from Hunter College towards the Met via Madison Avenue. They passed close to the Mark and Carlyle hotels, where celebrities often get ready for the gala. The group then marched through Central Park to avoid roadblocks set up for the gala.

Protesters carried Palestinian flags, banged drums, and chanted “free, free Palestine!” and “Rafah! Gaza!”. Notably, on Monday, Israel ordered Gazans to evacuate parts of eastern Rafah before launching a devastating assault on the city.

Most estimate that hundreds of protestors gathered in New York, while the New York Post reports that over 1,000 people took to the streets.

Ironically, the Met Gala theme this year was the “Garden of Time” – a reference to the JG Ballard story which centres around a wealthy couple who take refuge in their extravagant home and garden while the poor masses riot outside.

According to the Guardian, some protestors claimed it was their intention to crash the Met Gala, while others said they were unaware the event was taking place.

According to the New York Times, several protestors were arrested by the NYPD outside the gala. Others continued towards the Plaza Hotel and gradually dispersed.