Pro-Palestinian protester harassed, signs stolen in Montco incident

The man who stopped his car in the middle of the highway was charged with ethnic intimidation.

July 15, 2024, 11:14 a.m. EDT

UPPER MERION, PA — A pro-Palestinian protester demonstrating on the side of a road in Montgomery County was attacked by a man who then stole her signs, police said.

The incident occurred on July 3 at around 11:42 a.m. at the intersection of Route 202 and Henderson Road.

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The passing driver, Ilya Zaslavskiy, stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road and “spoke” to the protester, who was a woman, police said.

After intimidating them, he then stole their signs, according to authorities.

On July 5, police identified Zaslavskiy and issued an arrest warrant. He was arrested on July 12 by an Upper Merion patrol officer who recognized him.

He was accused of ethnic intimidation, harassment, receiving stolen goods, damaging property and similar charges.

Zaslavskiy was later released on $10,000 bail and is pending a preliminary hearing.