In a disruptive turn of events, a group of attention-seeking protesters caused chaos during Easter Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday night. The trio, previously involved in high-profile stunts, were promptly apprehended by the police and charged with disruption of religious service.

The disruptive incident unfolded when Matthew Menzies, 31, John Rozendaal, 63, and Gregory Schwedock, 35, entered the iconic cathedral and shouted "Free Palestine." A video of the incident showed one of the protesters yelling the slogan while being escorted out of the premises.

This was not the first time Schwedock's name made headlines; he was arrested in September for disrupting the U.S. Open women's semifinal by gluing his feet to the stands along with other activists. The interruption caused a significant delay, lasting nearly 50 minutes.

The disruptive trio's intrusion occurred following a protest by thousands of pro-Palestinian marchers in Times Square. Some of the demonstrators were linked to Extinction Rebellion NYC's Palestinian Solidarity group, who carried a flag adorned with an olive tree and the words "SILENCE = DEATH."

Extinction Rebellion has garnered a reputation for its disruptive climate change protests, including blocking major roads and hosting "die-ins" at prominent New York museums.

While many worshippers attending the Easter Mass, led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, remained undeterred by the disruption, some felt that the demonstration lacked respect for the sanctity of the church. A Brooklyn resident, Arturo Ballester, expressed the need for mutual respect among different religions while acknowledging the dire situation in Gaza.

Another attendee, who preferred to remain anonymous but identified herself as a lawyer, suggested that activists should express their views outside the church, respecting it as a sanctuary for worshippers. Tony Furnary, a visiting surgeon, simply remarked, "Wrong place, wrong time," regarding the protesters' chosen venue.

The disruption occurred on a day when millions of individuals across the globe participated in demonstrations to protest the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the Holy Week's commencement, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement calling for prayer, peace, and an end to the war in the Middle East.

The Conference has consistently condemned the loss of civilian lives and advocated for peace since the start of the conflict, emphasizing the need to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. The statement recognized the tremendous suffering faced by thousands of innocent people affected by the conflict.

The incident at St. Patrick's Cathedral serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by institutions when confronted with disruptive protests, regardless of the cause they advocate for.