Al Quds Day rallies in the United States have drawn concern after protesters in New York City and other locations used language and imagery widely associated with historic antisemitism, including chants echoing the medieval “blood libel” and depictions resembling Nazi-era propaganda, reports The Times Of Israel.
At a rally in Times Square, protest leaders directed crowds to chant “Stop eating babies” toward pro-Israel counter-demonstrators. The chant reflects the centuries-old blood libel myth, which falsely accused Jews of murdering children for ritual purposes — a conspiracy that historically led to violence against Jewish communities across Europe.
Witnesses reported that hundreds of demonstrators repeated the chant without hesitation. Protesters also shouted other inflammatory slogans and directed abuse at individuals holding Israeli flags nearby.
The rally formed part of Al Quds Day, an annual series of demonstrations held in various cities worldwide. While many participants frame the event as a political protest against Israel, critics argue that some rhetoric crosses into antisemitism by reviving historical stereotypes and conspiracies.
Speakers at the New York rally repeatedly described Israel using terms such as “colonialist,” “imperialist,” and “genocidal,” while also using language that critics say dehumanises Jews. One protest leader referred to “Zionists” as “parasites,” language closely associated with Nazi propaganda, which portrayed Jews as disease-like threats to society.
Analysts and Jewish organisations warn that such rhetoric reflects a broader pattern in which traditional antisemitic tropes are repackaged within contemporary anti-Zionist discourse. This includes conspiracy theories about Jewish power, dehumanising imagery, and accusations that mirror historical myths.
Similar imagery was reported at other rallies. In Toronto, protesters displayed signs depicting Jews as rats or grotesque caricatures, echoing visual motifs used in Nazi-era propaganda. Other demonstrations featured chants such as “Khaybar,” referencing a historical battle often invoked as a threat against Jews.
Participants at some rallies also expressed support for organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, all of which are designated as terrorist groups or linked to extremist activity by Western governments.
Researchers and commentators have argued that while criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate, the use of such imagery and language risks blurring the line between political activism and antisemitism. Some scholars describe modern anti-Zionism, when expressed in extreme forms, as incorporating earlier patterns of anti-Jewish hostility — including religious, racial and conspiratorial narratives.
The resurgence of these tropes has raised concerns about the normalisation of antisemitic rhetoric in public demonstrations. Jewish advocacy groups warn that such language can contribute to a climate in which hostility toward Jews is legitimised, particularly when it is framed as political expression.
Despite the severity of some of the rhetoric, critics note that these incidents often receive limited attention outside Jewish media and community organisations. They argue that greater scrutiny is needed to distinguish between legitimate political protest and language that promotes hatred or dehumanisation.
Photo Credit: Luke Tress/Times of Israel
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