Pro-Palestine rally disrupts Black Friday shopping at US mall

Around two hundred pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Tyson's Corner Center shopping mall in northern Virginia on the Friday after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday and one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The demonstration included a crowd on foot outside the mall as well as a line of cars driving in loops on the street in front of the shopping centre. Protesters said the march was meant to remind shoppers about the Palestinian lives that have been lost during Israel's bombardment of Gaza, which the US has supported.

It wasn't the largest demonstration that has taken place in the area over the past few weeks, but the demonstrators ended up causing a traffic pileup for people trying to enter the mall, forcing police to come in to disperse the protesters in vehicles.

Here are some photos from the rally:

Pro-Palestine demonstrators rally outside Tyson's Corner Center on Black Friday, 24 November 2023 (MEE/Umar Farooq)

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in cars hold up traffic trying to enter Tyson's Corner Center on Black Friday, 24 November 2023. — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in cars hold up traffic trying to enter Tyson's Corner Center on Black Friday, 24 November 2023 (MEE/Umar Farooq)

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator holds up a poster reading "Stop Arming Israel" outside the Tyson's Corner Center in northern Virginia on 24 November 2023. — A pro-Palestinian demonstrator holds up a poster reading "Stop Arming Israel" outside the Tyson's Corner Center in northern Virginia on 24 November 2023 (MEE/Umar Farooq)