In a disturbing turn of events, a pro-Palestinian protest staged outside the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on Friday took a violent turn, resulting in multiple arrests and reports of damaged artwork. The New York Police Department confirmed that 34 individuals were taken into custody as a result of the demonstration.

The protest, organized by Within Our Lifetime, a New York-based, Palestinian-led community organization, aimed to draw attention to the issue of Israel's military assault on the Gaza Strip. The group called for the museum to disclose and divest from any investments linked to the months-long conflict. The rally gathered momentum at the Barclays Center at 3 p.m. before making its way to the Brooklyn Museum around 4:30 p.m.

As the protesters occupied the public plaza in front of the museum and even entered the building, confrontations with museum staff and security ensued. Reports suggest that entrances were blocked, and banners were displayed both inside and on the museum's façade. Taylor Maatman, spokesperson for the Brooklyn Museum, expressed disappointment over the incident, stating that existing and newly installed artwork on the plaza was damaged. Additionally, some members of the museum's public safety staff were physically and verbally assaulted and harassed.

To address the escalating situation, the police attempted to secure the museum against the crowd. However, these efforts fell short as the disturbances continued. As a result, the museum made the decision to close an hour earlier than usual out of concern for the safety of the building, its collections, and staff.

This incident is just one of many pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place across New York City and the country in recent months. Student-led demonstrations at Columbia University, New York University, and other educational institutions have resulted in over 3,000 arrests, according to an NBC News tally.

In response to the protests on U.S. college and university campuses, Chancellor Cynthia Larive of the University of California addressed the student body, acknowledging their intentions but condemning the unlawful actions that disrupted the campus community. Larive explained that the university had already deemed the students' demands to divest and boycott companies affiliated with Israel as "unacceptable."

The recent wave of pro-Palestinian actions underscores the ongoing support for Palestinian rights and their opposition to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. With tensions escalating, it remains to be seen how these protests will impact the broader conversation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.