Rain and protest dampen Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York

Pelting rainfall dampened the 98th yearly Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade successful the United States, arsenic it chopped crossed New York City connected Thursday.

But for a second year successful a row, the elephantine balloons and enactment floats had to navigate different obstacle: protesters.

As the procession made its mode down West 55th Street, a radical of pro-Palestinian demonstrators entered the parade route, concisely blocking a gigantic balloon representing McDonald’s edifice mascot, the red-headed clown Ronald McDonald.

They sought to punctual parade-goers of the quality toll of Israel’s ongoing warfare successful Gaza, which has killed astatine slightest 44,330 Palestinians, galore of them women and children.

In the mediate of the street, the protesters unfurled a banner that read, “Don’t observe genocide! Arms embargo now. Free Palestine!” Several sat cross-legged connected the bedewed pavement, holding up tiny Palestinian flags.

McDonald’s, the fast-food concatenation whose balloon they blocked, has been the taxable of an ongoing boycott aft a subsidiary successful Israel announced escaped meals for Israeli subject members aft the commencement of the war.

The chain, however, has distanced itself from that effort, pointing retired that the determination was made by a section franchise, not by the company’s planetary leadership.

Police rapidly arrested 21 of the protesters connected Thursday, dragging immoderate retired of the thoroughfare successful bid to fto the parade pass. The hold was lone a substance of minutes.

Last year, a akin objection occurred, resulting successful the detention of 34 protesters, galore of whom were clad successful achromatic jumpsuits splattered with fake blood.

As then, the protesters this twelvemonth called for the US to halt supplying Israel with arms. Media reports person indicated the US is readying to greenlight a caller $680m arms sale to its Middle East ally, connected apical of its existing subject aid.

The parade different continued without a hitch. Beloved cartoon characters similar the canine Bluey soared done the air. The Disney quality Minnie Mouse made her debut arsenic a balloon. And Broadway stars similar Idina Menzel and Billy Porter rode atop floats oregon mingled among the dancers and marching bands pounding the pavement during the parade.

The parade contained 22 large balloons and 34 floats, according to organisers. It is televised unrecorded crossed the US. Last year, the broadcast raked successful 28.5 cardinal viewers, a grounds for the event, according to the work The Hollywood Reporter.

That made it 1 of the astir watched non-sporting events of the year.