New York police arrest protesters at sit-in opposing Netanyahu’s UN appearance
Police arrested protesters who blocked a Manhattan roadway during a sit-in opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and planned address to the UN General Assembly. Those arrested included actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder and congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier; Jewish Voice for Peace said 104 people were arrested.
Key points
- The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and involved a sit-in blocking traffic near UN headquarters.
Evidence · 3 source statements
demonstrators from the group Jewish Voice for Peace staged a sit-in blocking traffic near the UN building in protest of the Israeli PM’s visit.
The activists, wearing white shirts that said, “Fund people not bombs,” blocked traffic in an act of civil disobedience.
The protesters blocked First Avenue, just south of UN Headquarters, in an act of civil disobedience, and were arrested after refusing to clear the roadway.
- Police said they warned protesters to leave the intersection and took people into custody after they continued blocking it.
Evidence · 3 source statements
A spokesperson for the NYPD said officers had responded to reports of an “unscheduled demonstration” where people were blocking an intersection.
Members of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau issued … warnings, advising participants that they should leave,
Multiple individuals who didn’t comply were taken into custody,
- Jewish Voice for Peace organizers said 104 protesters were arrested; police did not disclose an exact total.
Evidence · 2 source statements
Police arrested 104 of the demonstrators who refused to clear the roadway, organizers said in a statement.
- The demonstrators called for an end to U.S. arms support for Israel and to what they described as genocide.
Evidence · 3 source statements
“Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.”
“Over 400 people held a mass sit-in outside the UN demanding an end to the genocide and an end to U.S. military funding to Israel,”
Who's involved
New York City Police Department
The department responded to the protest and carried out the arrests.
Police said officers responded to a report of an unscheduled demonstration blocking an intersection, warned participants to leave, and arrested those who did not comply.
What they said · 3 source statements
A spokesperson for the NYPD said officers had responded to reports of an “unscheduled demonstration” where people were blocking an intersection.
Members of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau issued … warnings, advising participants that they should leave,
Multiple individuals who didn’t comply were taken into custody,
Jewish Voice for Peace
The group organized the sit-in and described its demands.
The group said demonstrators were demanding an end to the genocide they described and to U.S. military funding for Israel, and opposed giving what it called war criminals a platform.
What they said · 2 source statements
“Over 400 people held a mass sit-in outside the UN demanding an end to the genocide and an end to U.S. military funding to Israel,”
“We refuse to stand by while war criminals are given a platform to speak and while our government spends billions on war.”
Demonstrators
They staged the sit-in and displayed its demands.
Banners called for stopping arms shipments to Israel and ending what the demonstrators described as genocide.
What they said · 2 source statements
“Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.”
protesters held banners that read “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide”.
Darializa Avila Chevalier
The congressional candidate was among those arrested and publicly opposed Netanyahu’s visit.
She called for the United States to stop arming Israel and said Netanyahu should be at The Hague, not in New York or addressing the UN.
What they said · 3 source statements
Our government has unlimited funds to arm a genocide against Palestinians but tells us there's nothing left to feed and house our own people.
Stop arming Israel!
Netanyahu belongs at the Hague: not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not addressing the United Nations General Assembly,
Hannah Einbinder
The actor was arrested at the protest and stated why she joined it.
She said she viewed opposing what she called the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians as a moral responsibility.
What they said · 1 source statement
“As a Jew, as an American, and as a human it is my moral responsibility to stand against the genocide of Palestinians by the Israeli government,”
Where accounts differ
Number of people at the demonstration
- A report citing City & State New York said around 250 protesters gathered.
Evidence · 1 source statement
The demonstration Avila Chevalier was reportedly arrested at, drew around 250 protesters to the corner of 1st Avenue and 39th Street in Manhattan, according to City & State New…
- Jewish Voice for Peace said more than 400 people held the sit-in.
Evidence · 1 source statement
“Over 400 people held a mass sit-in outside the UN demanding an end to the genocide and an end to U.S. military funding to Israel,”
The accounts give substantially different estimates for the size of the gathering.
What was reported
- The sit-in took place near UN headquarters in Manhattan as Netanyahu prepared to address the UN General Assembly.
Reported independently by 2: South China Morning Post, UN News
Evidence · 2 source statements
demonstrators from the group Jewish Voice for Peace staged a sit-in blocking traffic near the UN building in protest of the Israeli PM’s visit.
as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was readying to address the United Nations General Assembly.
- Protesters blocked a roadway near the UN and did not leave after police warnings to disperse or clear the intersection.
Reported independently by 2: The Guardian, The Times of Israel
Evidence · 3 source statements
The protesters blocked First Avenue, just south of UN Headquarters, in an act of civil disobedience, and were arrested after refusing to clear the roadway.
Members of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau issued … warnings, advising participants that they should leave,
Multiple individuals who didn’t comply were taken into custody,
- Those arrested included Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder.
Reported independently by 2: CBC News, The Times of Israel
Evidence · 2 source statements
Actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were detained in New York City on Thursday as a crowd protested Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the United Nations…
Einbinder and Sarandon were arrested, along with the prominent activists Linda Sarsour and Rabbi Abby Stein.
- Darializa Avila Chevalier was also arrested; reports named New York City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés among those arrested.
Reported independently by 3: City & State New York, Fox News, The Guardian
Evidence · 3 source statements
Darializa Avila Chevalier, a socialist House candidate in New York, was arrested Thursday while protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to New York City amid…
Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and New York City council member Chi Ossé were also among those arrested.
City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés were also arrested during the demonstration, according to City & State,
- Jewish Voice for Peace said 104 demonstrators were arrested. Other accounts gave rounded totals of about 100 or more than 100, while police did not release an exact number.
Reported independently by 4: New York Times, South China Morning Post, The Hindu, The Times of Israel
Evidence · 4 source statements
Police arrested 104 of the demonstrators who refused to clear the roadway, organizers said in a statement.
Film star Susan Sarandon and Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder were among a reported 100 people detained by police in New York on Thursday as they broke up a protest against the…
Jewish Voice for Peace said on social media that over 100 people had been arrested.
How coverage differed
Reports relaying AFP or New York Post coverage — These reports foregrounded the arrests of Sarandon and Einbinder and the celebrity angle.
The Times of Israel’s original reports — These reports focused more on the protest’s civil-disobedience tactic, the arrest count, and the elected officials and candidates present.
Fox News — The report centered on Chevalier’s arrest and her political statements, while also relaying estimates of attendance and arrests.
Still unclear
- Police did not disclose the exact number of arrests.
- The reports do not give the charges, if any, filed against those arrested.
- Netanyahu’s response to the protest is not included.
Not heard from
- Benjamin Netanyahu — The protest opposed his visit and planned UN address, but no statement from him about the demonstration appears.
- Susan Sarandon — She was among those arrested, but no statement from her about the protest or arrest appears.