> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Thousands March to American Museum of Natural History in Pro-Gaza Protest
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/thousands-march-to-american-museum-of-natural-history-in-pro-gaza-protest/
- Published: 2023-11-27T23:06:01.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:04:56.000Z
- Description: Activists called out the museum’s holdings of Native remains while denouncing “the genocide of Indigenous Palestinians.”
- Author: Elaine Velie
- Tags: News, American Museum of Natural History, New York, Palestine, Protest, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-large, #Import 2025-11-24 09:29 (2023, 2024, part 1)

Thousands of protesters marched to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City on Saturday afternoon, November 25, as part of a massive action in support of Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed more than [14,000 ](https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15503.doc.htm?ref=hyperallergic.com#:~:text=Since%207%20October%2C%20when%20Hamas,to%20be%20women%20and%20children.)Palestinians over the past month and a half. After nearly seven weeks of continual bombings following Hamas’s October 7 attack, Israel agreed to a “humanitarian pause” last week which was [extended](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-27-2023-852065d35c4643f4c874fb5993313b13?ref=hyperallergic.com) today for two additional days. 

Activists gathered at 2pm at Columbus Circle, some 20 blocks south of AMNH. Organizers who spoke to *Hyperallergic* said that by the time they reached the museum around 4:30pm, the institution had shut its doors ahead of its normal 5:30pm closing time. Photographs show barricades blocking the protestors from the building’s entrance and police standing between the metal barriers and the museum doors. However, the AMNH disputed the organizers’ account, telling *Hyperallergic* that the museum actually stayed open later than normal, until 6pm, due to the holiday and that it admitted visitors until 5:15pm.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/11/wol_11.jpg)

Police outside AMNH (photo by Aaron Kirshenbaum, courtesy Within Our Lifetime)

The action, organized by the advocacy groups Within Our Lifetime and Decolonize This Place (DTP), was described as an "anti-colonial tour," in line with initiatives such as the “[anti-Columbus Day tour](https://hyperallergic.com/522454/anti-columbus-day-tour-2019/)” organized in Manhattan in recent years. Activists handed out leaflets listing AMNH displays linked to colonialism, such as the [Hall of African Peoples](https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/african-peoples?ref=hyperallergic.com) and the Native culture displays inside the [Northwest Coast Hall](https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/northwest-coast?ref=hyperallergic.com).

"AMNH is a bastion of colonial history and Indigenous genocide, as they hold the remains of over [12,000 people](https://hyperallergic.com/a-new-york-museums-house-of-bones/), including those of Indigenous people," said Nerdeen Kiswani, who spoke at the action. She also called out the museum's acceptance of funds from corporate [patrons](https://www.amnh.org/join-support/corporate?ref=hyperallergic.com) linked to Zionist individuals and principles, such as the Bank of New York Mellon, which facilitates a [charity](https://bnymelloncharitablegiftfund.org/fidf/?ref=hyperallergic.com) for the Israeli military and holds [investments](https://themessenger.com/business/bank-of-new-york-mellon-pro-palestine-protesters-new-york?ref=hyperallergic.com) in Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems. AMNH has not responded to *Hyperallergic*’s immediate request for comment on the bank’s financial sponsorship of the museum.

“AMNH is an important place to target for protests as we are witnessing a genocide of Indigenous Palestinians take plaza in Gaza right now," Kiswani continued, adding that it was vital the action take place this past weekend, a day after Black Friday. "The USA is celebrating an Indigenous genocide disguised as Thanksgiving as it continues to fund and provide the weapons for Israel’s ongoing mass execution of Palestinians right now."

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/11/dtp_amnh.jpg)

The action ended around 6pm outside of the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. (photo courtesy Decolonize This Place)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/11/wol_4.jpg)

Protestors march to AMNH. (photo by [Budi](https://www.instagram.com/bbuudii/?ref=hyperallergic.com), courtesy Within Our Lifetime)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/11/wol_lede.jpg)

Activists gathered for an "anti-colonial tour" of AMNH. (photo courtesy Within Our Lifetime)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/11/wol_1.jpg)

The action was intended as an "anti-colonial tour" of AMNH. (photo by [Budi](https://www.instagram.com/bbuudii/?ref=hyperallergic.com), courtesy Within Our Lifetime)