Large-scale demonstrations and counter-demonstrations relating to Israel and Palestine were reported in several cities across the United States and Europe over the past 24 hours. In Washington, DC, police arrested dozens of demonstrators outside of the Democratic National Committee. One individual was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and multiple members of congress were evacuated from the building. In London, England, demonstrators gathered outside Parliament which resulted in traffic diversions. On Wednesday, police in Vancouver reported they deployed over 100 officers during a demonstration on Tuesday night at a restaurant where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was dining. Students at Columbia University in New York and George Washington University in Washington, DC demonstrated against the suspension of pro-Palestinian student groups from campus. A nationwide march in solidarity with Palestine is planned in the United Kingdom for Saturday, November 18th. Additional demonstrations continue to be planned through this weekend. These events continue to have the potential to disrupt supply chains, distribution centers and vehicular transportation around government buildings and could also result in clashes with law enforcement. Organizers will likely continue to plan events at the offices of politicians, political parties, government buildings, and companies that do business in Israel.
MSA Intel will continue to monitor the situation and provide relevant updates.
November 16, 2023
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – 6:00 p.m. – Centraal Station
- Berkeley, CA – 12:30 p.m. – Campanile Steps
- Berlin, Germany – 6:00 p.m. – Oranienplatz
- Brussels, Belgium – 6:00 p.m. – Gare Centrale
- Buenos Aires, Argentina – 1:00 p.m. – Hotel Alvear
- Fullerton, CA – 2:15 p.m. – Humanities Quad at CSUF
- Golden, CO – 3:00 p.m. – Kafadar Commons at Colorado School of Mines
- Manchester, England – 6:00 p.m. – St. Peter’s Square
- New Orleans, LA – 12:00 p.m. – Lafayette Square
- Newport News, VA – 12:30 p.m. – CNH Steps at Christopher Newport
- New York, NY – 4:00 p.m. – Washington Square Park
- Orlando, FL – 7:00 a.m. – 12011 University Blvd
- Philadelphia, PA – 3:30 p.m. – 2125 Chestnut Street
- San Antonio, TX – 12:00 p.m. – Sombrilla
- San Francisco, CA – 12:00 p.m. – SFSU Quad
- Santa Ana, CA – 5:30 p.m. – Santa Ana Public Library
- Spain (Nationwide) – Time TBD - Student Strike
- Toronto, Canada – 8:30 a.m. – 1596 Bloor Ave W.
- Toronto, Canda – 5:00 p.m. – 1202 Bloor Street
- Trondheim, Norway – 12:00 p.m. – Trondheim Torg
- Tokyo, Japan – 6:00 p.m. – Israeli Embassy
- Toledo, OH – 4:00 p.m. – Central and McCord
- Washington, D.C. – 8:30 a.m. – 625B H Street NE
November 17, 2023
- Boise, ID – 5:00 p.m. – 8th and Front Street
- Boston, MA – 3:00 p.m. – Boston Common
- Brooklyn, NY – 4:30 p.m. – 55 Hanson Place
- Columbus, OH – 12:00 p.m. – Bricker Hall
- New York, NY – 2:00 p.m. – Governor Hochul’s Office at 633 3rd Avenue
- New York, NY – 2:00 p.m. – Queen’s College
- New York, NY – 4:30 p.m. – 55 Hanson Place
- Philadelphia, PA – 2:00 p.m. – Bell Tower at Temple University
- Portland, ME – 1:00 p.m. – Portland Fish Pier
- Providence, RI – 3:00 p.m. – 40 Westminster Street
- San Antonio, TX – 12:00 p.m. – Sombrilla, UTSA
- Sheffield, England – 10:30 a.m. – University of Sheffield Town Hall (Student Walkout)
- Tokyo, Japan – 7:00 p.m. – Embassy of Israel
November 18, 2023
- Buffalo, NY – 6:00 p.m. – 65 Niagara Square
- Anchorage, AK – 3:00 p.m. – MLK Living Memorial (L St & 9th Ave)
- Hartford, CT – 2:00 p.m. – 210 Capitol Avenue
- Humboldt, CA – 12:00 p.m. – Arcata Plaza
- Liverpool, England – 2:00 p.m. – The Catholic Cathedral
- London, England – 11:00 a.m. – 209 Heastone Lane
- Myrtle Beach, SC – 12:00 p.m. – Plyler Park
- Norfolk, VA – 2:00 p.m. – St. Pauls Blvd and City Hall Ave
November 19, 2023
- Madrid, Spain – 12:00 p.m. – Plaza Lavapies
- Newcastle, England – 12:00 p.m. – Northumberland St
- Sherbrooke, QC – 3:00 p.m. – Marche de la Gare
- Tokyo, Japan – 12:00 p.m. – Hibiya Open-air Music Hall
- Wichita, KA – 12:00 p.m. – 601 E Douglas Avenue
- Wilmington, NC – 2:00 p.m. – 102 N 3rd Street
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Avoid protest locations and large public gatherings, when possible.
- Expect traffic disruptions throughout the area to continue until the demonstrations have concluded.
- Do not engage with demonstrators as this could escalate the situation.
- Follow all directions from authorities and law enforcement.
- Monitor local news for reports of demonstrations or other disruptions
- Monitoring social media or online forums and acting upon credible threats and trends will allow security details and site managers to adequately prepare to deter any threats.
- Have a proactive plan in place to deter criminal activity while protecting employees and assets. Considerations include:
- Procuring additional security assets to augment existing teams.
- Conducting security system tests to ensure all systems are fully operational.
- Creating an evacuation plan in the event of widespread civil unrest or other events that could jeopardize safety.
- Reviewing key control and all emergency protocols with members of the organization.
- Reviewing cyber best practices (ensuring systems have the most current updates, compatible devices use multi-factor authentication, etc.) with members across the organization.
For more information on MSA Security’s high-consequence threat solutions, click here.