If irony had a face, it would likely be wincing in New York City right now. Anti-Israel protesters recently disrupted an exhibit memorializing the victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival massacre. Think about that for a second. They stormed an exhibit that honors 260 people who lost their lives in an attack, while chanting provocatively and engaging in a show of extreme defiance. Ironic? Check. Insensitive? Check. Unhinged? You bet.

The scene turned chaotic as protesters clashed with police, crying out slogans such as "Long Live the Intifada" and "Israel go to hell." According to reports, a red flare was lit and a smoke bomb was set off by the protesters, because nothing says “honoring lives lost” like pyrotechnics and smoky chaos. It's as if these individuals lacked a fundamental understanding of how to approach a somber gathering—literally proving they can't read the room or, in this case, the exhibit.

Signs of discord were aplenty. Not just metaphorical flags, mind you, but actual flags associated with Hezbollah were waved around. A banner proudly displaying "Long Live Oct. 7th" also made an appearance. You can’t make this stuff up. Spreading a message dripping in controversy and hoping to win hearts and minds at an event memorializing victims? Bold strategy. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go over well.

Adding to the cacophony of bad decisions was New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who labeled the whole fiasco as "pure anti-Semitism." The White House chimed in as well, condemning the protest as "outrageous and heartbreaking."

In the aftermath of this chaotic disruption, multiple protesters were taken into custody and 23 were released with criminal court summons. "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," as they say around the water cooler.

The exhibit itself is a poignant tribute to the murder and rape victims of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival attack by Hamas. It’s a solemn reminder of lives cut tragically short. Due to the recent demonstrations, the NYC exhibit has now been extended until June 22 to ensure more people can witness the memorial in peace, sans fireworks and impromptu chanting.

For context, more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel's war against Hamas began in October. It’s a crisis with layers of tragedy and humanitarian concerns. However, expressing these issues by disrupting a memorial exhibit in such an antagonistic manner is a move that leaves much to be desired in the realm of sensitivity and tact.

So, to recap: protesters clashed with police, set off smoke bombs, upset an entire city, and missed the mark on honoring any lives lost by a devastating attack. That’s one way to get your message across, albeit not the recommended method if you’re aiming for meaningful discourse or empathy. Statecraft and empathy are tough courses, perhaps requiring a prerequisite in reading the room accurately.