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Washington Square Park sits in lower Manhattan – New York City’s largest and most recognizable island. It’s usually an attraction point for New York University students, passersby, occasional skateboarders, pigeons and whatever other characters call the city home. But on Friday, the park’s centre was transformed into a display of solidarity with Aleppo, Syria.

“Hey, Putin, what’d you say? How many kids were killed today?” and “Barack Obama, can you hear? Aleppo’s children are dying here” they shouted while flying Syrian opposition flags and holding placards in the brutal 3 °C (26 °F) December temperature.

Building on similar protests worldwide, Friday’s  of around 80 people in New York City sought to show support for rebel-controlled east Aleppo’s remaining residents.

“We’re here for Aleppo and all of Syria, because Russia is killing our people. Assad sold Syria to Iran and Russia,” Ahmed Hisry, a Syrian who came to the US in the 1970s, told °®Âþµº at the protest.

For the mostly American attendees, the actions of President Bashar al-Assad and his allies were certainly motivation for attendance. Some attendees showed support for the Syrian opposition by waving a version of their flag with ‘freedom’ written underneath.

But others simply sought to draw attention to the suffering, and promote peace. “I’m here to stand against the violence against all of Aleppo. As humans, we’re supposed to stand with each other, not tear each other apart,” said attendee Badr Alsaidi.

“I’m here to spread love, say a prayer and connect. So people understand their pain,” said Mohamed Hussein, another local at the event.

A few protesters also addressed the schism among international leftists on the conflict. “As socialist revolutionaries, we felt compelled to denounce those on the left who support Assad,” said Jason Hicks to °®Âþµº.

“Politically, I don’t expect us to accomplish anything. All we can do is express moral outrage”

Eric Josephson, another protester, agreed. “A lot of leftists think to fight US imperialism is to support whoever is strong. Russia is strong,” said Josephson. “Instead of finding ways to help the working class rise, they support the enemy of their enemy, which is Russian imperialism.”

Notably, the division among the left in the Middle East, the West and beyond on the Syrian crisis resurfaced in October when  from Electronic Intifada after she was criticised for being scheduled to appear at a conference in Damascus organised by the regime.

Meanwhile in Aleppo, after much wavering, a new deal is in place to transfer the remaining population in the last few rebel areas of the east into rebel territory outside the city.

Some of those still there are aware of the worldwide protests in support of them, which have also occurred in London, Istanbul, Amman, , Beirut and elsewhere.

“People who heard about the demonstrations showing solidarity are grateful,” said Zouhir Al Shimale, an east-Aleppo based journalist. “There’s a kind of appreciation for those who took to the streets, even if it’s just an emotional thing and not affecting the situation on the ground.”

The protesters did not expect their actions to immediately have any grand effects, but value sending the message nonetheless

'Moral outrage'

The protesters did not expect their actions to immediately have any grand effects, but value sending the message nonetheless. “Politically, I don’t expect us to accomplish anything. All we can do is express moral outrage,” said Sarah Graff, a student attending the protest.

The protest came at a critical time for US policy towards Syria. US president-elect Donald Trump expressed skepticism over toppling the Assad regime on the campaign trail, considered ending US support for rebel groups, and has praised regime ally president Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has no international political experience – only international business experience as CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil, making his views on Syria unclear. Tillerson is reportedly friendly with Putin, however.

On the other hand, Trump called for the creation of “safe zones” in Syria funded by Gulf countries on Thursday, describing the situation in the country as “so sad.”

Trump is also reportedly considering prominent Bush administration official John Bolton as Tillerson’s deputy. Bolton, more in line with neoconservative thought, has taken  on Assad allies Russia and Iran, especially the latter.

After four hours, the protesters went home. Aleppans woke up soon thereafter in a city still embroiled in conflict.