On Friday evening, the Brooklyn Museum was transformed into a battleground for justice as a diverse coalition of cultural workers, artists, and community members converged to demand accountability for the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The protest, organized by the Cultural Front for Free Palestine, denounced the museum’s silence on Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians.
Inside the lobby, protestors brandished banners, beat drums, and blew whistles, calling for the museum to condemn the violence and divest from companies linked to Israel’s military efforts. Outside, a hundreds-strong march ended at the museum’s entrance, where protestors plastered posters and unfurled a banner reading “Free Palestine From Genocide” across the cornice.
The protest highlighted the museum’s financial ties to companies profiting from Israel’s military actions and demanded full disclosure and divestment. The Cultural Front stated that the museum’s reliance on public subsidies and land grants necessitates transparency and accountability.
This demonstration is part of a growing movement, with previous protests at the Brooklyn Museum and other NYC art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. The protest’s peaceful yet fervent tone reflected the urgency of the cause, as participants sought to hold cultural institutions accountable for their role in perpetuating systemic injustices.
As the evening drew close, police dispersed the protestors, and the museum remained silent. The event, however, marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for Palestinian rights and the cultural community’s responsibility to speak out against injustice.
