MIAMI – A pro-Palestinian demonstration was held Friday afternoon as hundreds gathered at downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park.
It comes as law enforcement agencies across South Florida beefed up their presence at Jewish schools and houses of worship ahead of the planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations Friday.
Hundreds of protesters were seen and heard denouncing the killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza as Israeli forces responded to the surprise mass murderous attack on their people carried out by Hamas last weekend.
“Our fathers, our mothers, our sisters, our grandmas, all of those people dying for absolutely no reason,” said one Palestinian protestor.
Officials said there were no credible threats, but the tighter security measures were being fueled by social media chatter.
A Local 10 News crew was at the demonstration where the emotions of an Israeli-American were running high towards a pro-Palestinian protestor.
“You dirty rapist. You support people that rape people and behead kids—that’s what you do?” My brother died last week! My brother died,” shouted the Israel-American at the Palestinian protestor.
Local 10 News also spoke with a Palestinian woman who was against the violence that is happening around the world.
“I want to say that I am against any violence,” she said. “We are not anti-Semitic. I love Jewish people. I love them with all my heart.”
Miami-Dade school board officials referenced security worries at their most recent meeting.
“Our school police is prepared,” Superintendent Jose Dotres said.
As the Israeli war escalates and a Hamas leader called for a “Global Day of Jihad,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called for heightened levels of security all over the county.
“While our public safety teams are not responding to any individual threats in our area, we are partially activating the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center out of an abundance of caution,” she said in a statement, in part. “MDPD will have an increased presence around schools, synagogues, mosques and Jewish Community Centers.”
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said on WIOD this week that he has extra deputies patrolling area synagogues, mosques and college campuses, and that he is coordinating with the FBI to ensure ongoing safety on the heels of the ongoing war raging in Israel.
Miami police said they arrested 29-year-old Eyad Kaki after he allegedly continually crossed through police caution tape that was set up for the safety of all protesters.
Authorities said Kaki disobeyed several orders given by police officers to return onto the sidewalk located on the opposite side of the police caution tape, in which he refused.
Security heightened across Miami Dade and Broward counties as a former Hamas leader reportedly called on Arabs to hit the streets with rage.
“A global call to action for Jihad was issued and in an abundance of caution, we wanted to provide extra security to vulnerable targets,” said Levine Cava.
Local 10 News cameras also spotted a man being detained at the demonstration who tried to cross the street to engage with the opposing protesters.
Local 10 News spoke with a local Palestinian-American, who condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel, but also said that killing innocent Palestinians isn’t the answer.
“Neither side should be killed,” Anas Amireh said. “Neither side should die.”
Despite schools increasing their security, a mother of a child who attends Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood told Local 10 News that this isn’t how children should live.
“Instilling fear in our children is not a way of living,” she said.
5 p.m. report.
6 p.m. report
Local 10 Digital Journalist Chris Gothner contributed to this story.