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by Ben Cohen
Israeli flags appear on the overhead screens during the disrupted minute of silence at the New York Liberty’s match against the Las Vegas Aces on Oct. 15, 2023. Photo: Screenshot
A minute of silence for the Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist invasion that was held prior to Sunday’s WNBA match between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces descended into booing, jeers and catcalls from large sections of the crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Video of the minute of silence filmed by a member of the audience and shared with The Algemeiner showed the booing becoming louder and more intense as the announcer spoke of the “senseless loss of life in Israel,” before highlighting the plight of Omer Neutra, one of the nearly 200 hostages seized by Hamas and spirited to Gaza.
A picture of Neutra, who was born in Long Island and whose family were guests at the game, was displayed on the main screens in the arena. “Omer is a huge basketball fan who turns 22 this weekend,” the announcer explained, as the shouting and jeering from elements in the crowd became louder.
As the announcer requested that the crowd observe a minute’s silence with the flag of Israel on display, the booing reached a crescendo, with some members of the audience chanting “Free, Free Palestine.”
Video filmed by a member of the audience showing the boos and jeers that greeted a minute of silence for the Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror assault.
“At first, I was really just blown away and I felt really anxious hearing all the booing,” 10-year-old Orly, who attended the game, told The Algemeiner on Monday.
“I don’t understand how they were allowed to stay in the room with us,” Orly continued, referring to those in the crowd who yelled and screamed during the minute of silence.
Orly’s mother, Lana — who declined to give the family’s last name out of safety concerns — said that she had been mortified by the scenes.
“People booed during the minute of silence — who could be so depraved as to do that?” Lana remarked.
Lana said that she had told Orly that “she had witnessed antisemitism.”
She added: “What I didn’t say aloud is that I know she’ll be witnessing so much more to come.”
The Algemeiner reached out to the New York Liberty on Monday morning to ask for its response to the jeering and to inquire whether any disciplinary action had been taken against the members of the audience behind the disruption. No response had been received by press time.
