On August 16, 2025, large-scale protests took place in multiple North American cities, including Toronto, New York City, and Washington, D.C., centered around calls for an arms embargo and broader political issues related to Palestine. In Toronto, the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) organized a demonstration at Yonge and Dundas, endorsed by over 70 groups, including members of Neturei Karta and the Communist Revolutionary Party. Protesters eventually took over the intersection, despite police efforts to block the area with bicycle barricades. The protest featured masked participants and drew hundreds to thousands of attendees. In New York City, thousands of demonstrators marched along Fifth Avenue, near the Israeli consulate, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "globalize the intifada." The rally included speeches by controversial figures like Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian national. Protesters also stormed the site of the 9/11 attacks, calling for jihad and a global intifada. Washington, D.C. saw protests against President Trump's public safety policies, with some participants opposing the mobilization of the National Guard. President Trump characterized the city as plagued by violent gangs and crime. The demonstrations have drawn criticism and calls for stricter immigration and security measures, with some commentators labeling participants as supporters of terrorism. The Canadian Anti-Hate Network also participated in the Toronto protest, and a Jewish group named Jews Say No to Genocide marched to join the arms embargo demonstration. Police presence escalated with large contingents of public order and riot officers advancing on protesters in Toronto.