Police in New York City took nearly 100 protesters into custody Monday as demonstrations erupted demanding the United States halt weapons shipments to Israel and cease military assistance to the Middle Eastern ally.
The antiwar organization Jewish Voice for Peace reported that roughly 90 individuals were detained during the demonstrations. Notable among those arrested was Chelsea Manning, the former Army soldier turned whistleblower who previously leaked classified information to WikiLeaks.
While the New York City Police Department confirmed “multiple” arrests occurred, officials declined to specify an exact number of those taken into custody.
Video footage from the demonstrations revealed crowds assembled outside the offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Activists could be heard shouting various slogans including “stop the bombs,” “end the killings” and “free Palestine” as they voiced their opposition to joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, Israel’s operations in Lebanon, and the ongoing assault on Gaza.
Additional chants heard throughout the protest included “let Gaza live,” “let Iran live” and “let Lebanon live.”
The demonstrations come amid escalating Middle East tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated with its own attacks targeting Israel and Gulf nations that house American military installations. The combined U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran and Israeli military actions in Lebanon have resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of civilians.
The Trump administration has implemented strict measures against similar protests, including attempts to deport international students, threats to cut university funding where demonstrations occurred, and requirements for screening immigrants’ social media activity. These enforcement efforts have encountered legal challenges in the courts.
New York City became a focal point for pro-Palestinian demonstrations throughout 2024.
American military assistance to Israel has drawn increased criticism from human rights organizations during Israel’s Gaza conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, created widespread hunger, forced the displacement of Gaza’s entire population, and prompted genocide allegations from academic experts and United Nations investigators.
Israel maintains its military actions constitute legitimate self-defense following the Hamas-led attack in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken.
