In a heated exchange that has stirred up debates about political protests and security measures, Fox News host and former Congressman Sean Duffy has sharply criticized New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) after an anti-Israel protest disrupted Grand Central Station. The protest, organized by the group Within Our Lifetime (WOL), took place on April 7, 2025, and quickly escalated into a highly charged situation that left many questioning how the MTA handled the protest and its aftermath.
Duffy’s Outrage Over “Antisemitic Mobs”
The protest at Grand Central occurred just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, and it didn’t take long for the controversy to spark heated reactions. Duffy, known for his outspoken style, wasted no time taking to social media to condemn the protesters and their actions. He called the scene “disgusting,” referring to it as “antisemitic mobs shutting down transit centers” and demanding that the organizers be held accountable.
“I think we should condemn these antisemitic mobs, and the organizers should be held accountable,” Duffy said, referring to the group’s aggressive protest tactics. His statement was met with swift support from some viewers who agreed that the protest disrupted the lives of innocent commuters and created a dangerous environment for Jewish Americans.
MTA Responds: “No Impact on Service”
However, the MTA quickly pushed back against Duffy’s comments. In a public response, MTA Chief of Security Michael Kemper downplayed the incident, claiming, “Grand Central Terminal was never shut down and service was not affected.” According to Kemper, the MTA worked with the New York Police Department (NYPD) to manage the protest, limiting the protestors’ movement and preventing them from completely blocking access to the station.
While the MTA’s statement asserted that 100% of Metro-North trains ran on time, they acknowledged that some doors were temporarily closed during the protest to prevent further demonstrators from entering the terminal. However, the MTA also confirmed that several arrests were made, as some protestors violated the terminal’s rules and were forcibly removed.
Protester’s View: A Different Narrative
The protest itself, according to WOL founder Nerdeen Kiswani, was a strategic action to “bring the heart of NYC to a halt” and to raise awareness for the Palestinian cause. Kiswani claimed that the NYPD closed multiple entrances at Grand Central during the protest to manage the flow of people. She added that the group had staged previous protests at Grand Central without incident, implying that the MTA’s response to this protest was a departure from past experiences.
Duffy’s Criticism of the MTA’s Handling of the Situation
In response to the MTA’s statement, Duffy doubled down on his condemnation. He accused the MTA of ignoring the real impact the protest had on the safety of certain individuals, particularly Jewish Americans. “Service was not affected? Tell that to the Jewish Americans who feared for their lives while this went on,” Duffy fired back. He also criticized the MTA for failing to condemn the actions of the protestors, claiming that their lack of action was essentially “enabling this harassment.”
Duffy’s remarks have reignited a debate over the proper handling of protests, especially in public spaces such as transit hubs, where large crowds and security concerns often collide. His insistence that the MTA should have acted more forcefully has gained support among many viewers, particularly those frustrated with the growing frequency of protests in major U.S. cities.
A History of Protests at Grand Central
The protest at Grand Central was not the first time the iconic transportation hub has been the site of political demonstrations. In October 2023, just days after the Hamas-led attack in Israel, anti-Israel protesters shut down parts of the station, unfurling a banner that read, “Mourn for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.” While the MTA expressed disappointment over the disruption at the time, the response to the protest was more restrained compared to Duffy’s recent criticism.
The Bigger Picture: Misinformation and Backlash
The broader issue at hand is the way protests, especially those involving controversial political views, are handled by authorities and media outlets. Duffy’s remarks about the protest highlight a wider discussion about the role of public protests in creating division and how media and government institutions address these events. With tensions running high on all sides of the political spectrum, the debate over how to balance free speech and public safety remains ongoing.
What’s Next for the MTA and Duffy’s Critique?
As the dust settles from the recent protest, the MTA faces renewed scrutiny over its approach to handling such demonstrations. While the MTA insists that its collaboration with the NYPD was successful in managing the situation, questions remain about whether the response was adequate, especially given the emotional and physical toll the protest may have caused for certain groups.
Duffy, for his part, has continued to advocate for more accountability in handling protests that disrupt public spaces. His call for stronger action against demonstrators, particularly when hate speech and violence are involved, will likely remain a point of contention in ongoing discussions about public safety and civil liberties.
Conclusion: A Divisive Moment for the MTA
This latest exchange between Duffy and the MTA highlights the deep divides over how protests are managed in the U.S. While the MTA asserts that the protest was not disruptive to service, Duffy’s strong words emphasize the broader concerns about safety, accountability, and the need for government institutions to take a firmer stance against harmful activities in public spaces. As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how authorities will navigate future protests and whether they will take more drastic measures to prevent similar incidents from escalating.
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