Pro-Palestinian protesters damage artwork and shut down Brooklyn Museum

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Pro-Palestinian protesters descended on the Brooklyn Museum Friday evening, shutting down the institution and damaging artworks in the museum lobby, according to a spokesperson for the museum.

Museum workers frantically rushed to lock the front doors but were quickly overcome by protesters who overtook the Brooklyn Museum's lobby.

"At around 4:30 p.m., a group of demonstrators came up Eastern Parkway and began protesting outside on the plaza as well as inside the building, blocking entrances and unfurling banners both indoors and on the facade of our building," read a statement by Taylor Maatman, director of public relations and communication at the museum. " Unfortunately, there was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed. Out of concern for the building, our collections, and our staff, the decision was made to close the building an hour early and ask the public to vacate peacefully. "

A group claiming to represent the protesters said the action targeted museum board members. It was not immediately clear whether anyone on the Brooklyn Museum Board of Trustees has direct ties to Israel or the war with Hamas.

The art museum is 560,000 square feet and is New York City's second-largest, containing around 500,000 works of art. The museum's permanent collection is home to works of art by artists like Judy Chicago, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh, according to the museum's website.

It remains unclear what works of art in the lobby were damaged by protestors.