Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza flooded New York City’s most iconic cathedral, disrupting an Easter mass Saturday night and throwing the quiet scene into disarray.
On the evening of March 30, candles illuminated the interior of St. Patrick’s Cathedral as observers gathered for the customary Easter Vigil Mass led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York.
But peace quickly turned to chaos when protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC’s Palestinian Solidarity group stormed the church.
In front of the faithful, the brazen activists unfurled a flag adorned with an olive tree and the words “SILENCE = DEATH.”
The display only lasted a few seconds, when security took it out of their hands and began pushing them into the hallway.
Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza flocked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, disrupting a Saturday night mass.
During the traditional Easter Vigil Mass, protesters unfurled a flag reading “SILENCE = DEATH” in front of the crowd. They were quickly confronted by security guards.
Security began pushing protesters away as spectators rose from the benches, some filming with their cellphones.
Horrified spectators remained on their benches as the group was led outside. Some stood up, while others pointed their mobile phones at the commotion, as cameras rolled.
As they were led away, heads began to turn as a chant could be heard: “Free Palestine, free!”
One protester, identified only as Matthew M., said he believed churches calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza could “make a difference.”
“The United Nations Security Council’s call for a ceasefire is a good start, but the churches’ declarations on a ceasefire are also part of the solution,” he said.
Since the start of the war in the Middle East, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for peace and denounced massive civilian casualties.
Before the start of Holy Week, the group called for prayer in the Middle East and an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Extinction Rebellion is a UK-founded climate justice movement committed to “non-violent direct action”.
The Palestinian Solidarity chapter is an affinity group of the New York City group Extinction Rebellion.
The protesters, affiliated with the Palestinian Solidarity chapter of Extinction Rebellion NYC, claimed that the war in Gaza was not only causing mass civilian deaths, but was also damaging the environment.
As protesters were expelled from the space, a chant began: “Free Palestine, free!”
“War, occupation and industrial pollution are poisoning the soil, air and water in Gaza and across the planet, destroying the Earth’s ability to support life,” said activist Gregory Schwedock.
The scene inside the cathedral followed earlier protests in Times Square in honor of Land Day, a day of commemoration for Palestinians remembering the land confiscation ordered by Israel in 1976.
Saturday night was not the first time the group disrupted a church service.
In December 2023, Extinction Rebellion disrupted a mass in Turin, Italy, as protesters cited writings by Pope Francis on the environment.
Archbishop Roberto Repole issued a statement after the incident, saying he had “great esteem for those who mobilize for the defense of creation and accept the calls of Pope Francis.”
However, Repole said he “regrets that they decided to speak in the Duomo without first wanting to talk to me and asking me if they could intervene.”
“I would have responded that at Mass we often pray for peace and for the preservation of creation, but the Eucharistic celebration is not an appropriate time to host public interventions.”
Dolan has yet to issue a statement regarding the Easter Mass protests.