Demonstrators demanding a cease-fire in Gaza interrupted an Easter Vigil Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City before being removed from the service.
Three protesters were arrested after disrupting the Easter services on Saturday evening, according to multiple reports.
Video of the incident shows six protesters at the front of the church, holding up a banner reading, "Silence = Death," before being quickly escorted out by security.
"Free Palestine!" one demonstrator yelled while shaking his fist as security escorted him from the cathedral, video shows.
At least some of the protesters are associated with XR NYC Palestine Solidarity, which is associated with Extinction Rebellion New York City, a chapter of an international movement of climate activists, per a press release from the activists behind the cathedral protest.
"War, occupation, and industrial pollution are poisoning the soil, air, and water in Gaza and all over the planet, destroying the earth’s capacity to sustain life. This destruction is called 'Ecocide,'" said XR NYC Palestine Solidarity activist Gregory Schwedock, who was at the church.
Parishioner Evi Kokalari said she attended the service when the protesters appeared. She said on X, formerly Twitter: "They claimed to be Christians 'too,' but they seemed pretty evil to me. … At the end of the day, these 'Christians' couldn't interrupt the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and most definitely didn't free Palestine!"
Kokalari also said that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York who was running the service, "totally ignored" the demonstrators and continued with the vigil.
