Is nothing sacred? Pro-Palestine protestors light American flag on fire outside WWI memorial as they spray paint 'Gaza' on base and shamelessly add Palestinian flag to the display

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators defaced a World War I memorial in New York City's Central Park on Monday evening, daubing the base of a statue with graffiti and lighting an American flag on fire. 

The demonstrators - part of a crowd of 1,000 people - also added Palestinian flags to the 107th Infantry memorial at the intersection of East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue.

The act of wanton vandalism was part of a 'day of rage' protest with those taking part showing no respect for the Stars & Stripes or the war memorial above.

Only a few protesters could be seen in video footage, but a chant of 'free Palestine' could be heard in the background. The word 'Gaza' was spray-painted onto the base of the statue in both black and red paint.

Its unclear if police have made any arrests for the vandalism.  

Pro-Palestinian protestors vandalized a World War I memorial in Central Park on Monday as 1,000 marched around town

An American flag was left burning on the ground while chants of 'Free Palestine' rang out

The protestors spray-painted 'Gaza' on the base in black and red paint and added Palestinian flags to the memorial 

The desecration of the memorials occurred when demonstrators could not get near the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as police blocked protestors access to the event. 

Videos and photos showed police ordering protestors out of nearby streets and arresting those who didn't comply. 

Almost 30 anti-Israel protesters were arrested close to the Met Museum. 

Other protestors turned their attention to the 107th Infantry Memorial, pulling out marker pens and spray paint in order to make their mark. Some stuck Palestinian flag stickers onto the statue's bronze soldiers.

As footage of the desecration made rounds online, several onlookers - some of whom actually had relatives who served in WWI - made their distaste known.  

'My great grandfather died over there,' one commenter wrote. 'Wish I was in the vicinity.'

'Seeing this is upsetting,' added another. 'My Dad served in the US army in Vietnam during the war. My uncle served in army in Panama during the Vietnam war. Also my great great uncle served in World War One. I find it very offensive.'

One person sniped:  'Someone there needs to push back on this. Step up to the plate and push these desecrations out.'

Another declared: 'Those who deface a memorial should serve long sentences in prison.' 

'Disgusting,' one person simply wrote

'Make them pay to clean it up,' someone else added.

There was no police in sight in the now viral footage, with much of the NYPD‘s effort tasked with protecting the ongoing star-studded gala some 15 blocks north. 

Video footage showed a few demonstrators chanting 'free Palestine' while defacing the statue, draping it with a Palestinian flag

The act occurred when protesters were unable to reach the Met Gala, prompting them to target the 107th Infantry memorial instead

Anti-Israel protesters vandalized a World War I memorial in Central Park

Protestors cheered those who defaced the memorial waving Palestinian flags

On Monday evening, the protestors marched throughout New York City after starting on Manhattan's Upper East and Hunter College. They headed to the Met as celebrities started to arrive. 

The protests — officially billed as part of a 'Day Of Rage For Gaza: From The Encampments To The Streets' — began earlier on Monday afternoon at Columbia University and NYU downtown with the two groups merging close to the Gala.

Both protests met up at CUNY Hunter College at 5pm - just one mile from the Met, or about 20 minutes walk away before they made their way uptown.

After facing off with police, demonstrators started to march along Park Avenue blocking the southbound lanes. 

Uniformed officers could be seen walking along the streets armed with dozens of plastic zip-ties should any further protestors wish to make an appearance and cause disruption. 

A woman was forced to the ground by officers with the NYPD as she was placed under arrest 

One thousand pro-Palestine protestors clashed with the NYPD just a block away from New York's Met Gala on Monday evening

Dozens of protestors were arrested along Madison Avenue and East 84th Street as the police attempted to ensure none of the demonstrators spilled over to neighboring Fifth Avenue where the Met Gala was taking place

Protestors were met with a swift response from the NYPD who had been bracing for them

A woman wearing a keffiyeh is placed under arrest by the NYPD

Police face pro-Palestinian demonstrators near the Met Gala

Police arrest an ultra-Orthodox Jewish pro-Palestinian demonstrator near the Met Gala 

Police arrest a pro-Palestinian demonstrator near the Met Gala 

A pro-Palestinian protester is apprehended on-site even before the Met Gala began

The NYPD had earlier said it was well prepared, adding that it would 'have an adequate security deployment.'

NYPD sources said the Met will have a larger security contingent than normal with both plain clothes police inside and outside the museum along Fifth Avenue, at the iconic Upper East Side venue.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with the police, noted how 'outside agitators' had been involved in the college demonstrations that had overrun college campuses across the city over the last two weeks. 

Gaza demonstrators have not shied away from disrupting other high-profile events in the city including the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting. 

The Met Gala sees some of the biggest names in film, fashion, music, sports, politics and social media, making it a lightning rod for protests. 

Nationwide campus protests began at Columbia in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. 

Actor Chris Hemsworth and his wife make a grand entrance under tight New York Police Department security at the Met Gala in New York City

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Monday evening at Manhattan's Hunter College, just a mile away from the star-studded 2024 Met Gala

The message from the protestors was clear as they called for the war in Gaza to end

On Monday, the Ivy League school announced the cancelation of its university-wide commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 15. 

'Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families,' the university said Monday. 'As a result, we will focus our resources on those school ceremonies and on keeping them safe, respectful, and running smoothly.' 

This comes days after the New York Police Department burst onto Columbia with riot gear to break up the tent encampment and re-take Hamilton Hall back from student occupiers.  

Over 100 people were arrested at the New York City university, according to CNN. Police said there were no injuries or people resisting arrest.