New York police arrested approximately 100 individuals, including several high-profile celebrities and local politicians, on Tuesday outside the United Nations headquarters. The demonstrators had gathered to oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his scheduled speech to the UN General Assembly.
Among those detained were Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, Emmy Award recipient Hannah Einbinder, New York City Council member Chi Osse, and Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic candidate for Congress. The rally was coordinated by the advocacy organization Jewish Voice for Peace and attracted roughly 200 participants.
Attendees wore matching white T-shirts bearing slogans such as “Fund people not bombs,” “No war,” and “Free Palestine.” As the crowd blocked nearby traffic, officers issued instructions via loudspeaker for the group to disperse. When some protesters relocated to the sidewalks but refused to leave entirely, police surrounded those who remained seated on the pavement. chanting “Netanyahu go to hell” before escorting them to police buses.
Manijeh Moradian, a 50-year-old university professor of Iranian and Jewish heritage, spoke out against the proceedings. “What’s being done to Gaza, the obliteration of an entire society, in our name, with our tax dollars, this is our responsibility to speak out against, and Netanyahu has no right to use the platform of the United Nations to justify these atrocities,” Moradian said.
Inside the General Assembly hall, Netanyahu addressed the assembly to defend Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, aiming to counter rising international isolation prior to Israel’s upcoming elections. His speech was marked by walkouts, with dozens of delegates leaving the chamber.
In a separate demonstration, pro-Palestine activists assembled on the steps of the New York Public Library in Manhattan. Carrying Palestinian flags and banners reading “New York rejects Zionism” and “Palestine deserves freedom,” they voiced their opposition.
Rabbi Yitzchok Deutsch, representing Neturei Karta International, criticized the prime minister’s use of religious identity. “Netanyahu was using our religion, our identity, to justify all these crimes,” Deutsch stated. He also sent a message of appreciation to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, praising his “courage to do whatever he can to arrest” Netanyahu.
Protester Melissa Zuniga raised questions regarding the legal status of the Israeli leader, asking why he was permitted to speak at the UN while facing an international arrest warrant.
Wait, did they really chant that at the UN? I wonder if the security detail found that amusing or just incredibly annoying.
The image of delegates walking out is telling. The isolation Netanyahu fears is real, regardless of who gets arrested outside.
I had no idea about the arrest warrant question. That seems like a major point everyone is overlooking in the chaos.
Sarandon doing what she does best. I respect the consistency, even if the methods are questionable.