A top NYPD officer was seen accidentally pepper-spraying himself while trying to deal with an anti-Israel protest on the Manhattan Bridge Saturday, May 11. A viral video on social media shows NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy spaying the chemical irritant on his face as he attempted to deploy it on the demonstrators. The protesters marched across the bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill.
What does the video show?
NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy pepper-sprays himself during anti-Israel protest on Manhattan Bridge (Photo by Alex Kent / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)
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The footage shows the demonstrator chanting ‘Rafah!’ as they fall over each other amid the chaos. Police in riot gear are seen trying to wrangle them.
Some people in the group of protesters are seen carrying signs reading ‘Palestine will be free.’ Many seem to have their arms linked together while they backed away from the cops.
McCarthy is seen alongside three protesters towards the end of the video. He takes pepper spray out of his pocket and accidentally sprays himself. Other officers reportedly later dumbed a bottle of water over his face.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy is assisted after seemingly being affected by a chemical irritant as police arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocking traffic on the Manhattan Bridge as they participate in a National Day of Action protest ahead of Nakba Day on May 11, 2024 in New York City (Photo by Alex Kent / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
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Several other videos doing the rounds on social media captured moments from the protest. One clip shows the demonstrators marching, as the caption says, “As protesters — marching with their arms linked together — approached the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge, a group of officers headed towards them in preparation for mass arrests. This is the last video I took before being cuffed”.
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Several other videos doing the rounds on social media captured moments from the protest. One clip shows the demonstrators marching, as the caption says, “As protesters — marching with their arms linked together — approached the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge, a group of officers headed towards them in preparation for mass arrests. This is the last video I took before being cuffed”.
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In a post on X, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote, “Today, over 100 protestors intentionally blocked lanes of traffic on the Manhattan Bridge. This footage gives us a bird’s-eye view of our police officers placing individuals under arrest, restoring order, and keeping NYC moving. More than an inconvenience, this is a public safety hazard. “
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He added, “The NYPD will always protect freedom of speech and protest, but we will not stand for lawlessness!”
The NYPD confirmed to New York Post that about 150 people were arrested during the demonstration on Saturday evening.
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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Home/World News/Us News/Viral video shows top NYPD officer pepper-spraying himself while breaking up anti-Israel protest on Manhattan Bridge
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