Police made mass arrests Thursday afternoon after hundreds of demonstrators blocked the roadway on 1st Avenue near the United Nations in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s visit to the global organization based on Manhattan’s East Side.
Over 200 demonstrators opposing Netanyahu’s visit and the ongoing war in Gaza rushed into the corner of East 39th Street and 1st Avenue just after 12 p.m. on Sept. 24. The large group unfurled massive banners and signs, blocking traffic from passing.
Police made mass arrests Thursday afternoon after hundreds of demonstrators blocked the roadway on 1st Avenue near the United Nations in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.Photo by Dean Moses
Organized by Jewish Voices for Peace, a leftist organization that supports Palestine, and the far-left Democratic Socialists of America, the sit-in instantly drew a massive police response. Protesters chanted, lambasting Netanyahu for his planned speech at the General Assembly that afternoon.
“As we protest, the Israeli military expands its genocide in Gaza and destruction across the region,” said Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace Stefanie Fox, using the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s war in response to Hamas’ terrorist attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Supporters of Israel have said the term’s use in response to the war in Gaza has inflamed antisemitism at home and abroad.
“But this is a movement that refuses to give up, and we know we can end this. From the streets of NYC to the halls of Congress, we will be relentless in our demands to stop arming Israel,” Fox added.
Police made mass arrests Thursday afternoon after hundreds of demonstrators blocked the roadway on 1st Avenue near the United Nations in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.Photo by Dean Moses
A handful of elected officials and celebrities also joined the fray, including Elliot Page, Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon, Hannah Einbender, Chelsea Manning, and more. After about an hour, police brought in large buses and began using flex cuffs to take protesters, including Sarandon, Nixon, Einbender and Manning.
While protesters chanted and yelled, they were arrested without physical incident. About 100 protesters were taken to One Police Plaza and are expected to be charged with disorderly conduct.
The arrested individuals include Democratic Congressional candidate Darializa Chevalier, who upset U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th Congressional District primary in June; along with City Council Member Alexa Aviles. Both are DSA members.
Meanwhile, pundits criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani for allegedly encouraging New Yorkers to protest against Netanyahu after floating the idea of arresting him during his visit to the UN.
Hizzoner has since stated he lacked the authority to arrest Netanyahu. On Thursday, Mamdani insisted that he had not encouraged demonstrations against Netanyahu, but that he respected the public’s right to protest.
“I have never encouraged them to protest; what I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city; we respect that right. And this is a city that is proud of the Constitution, proud of the First Amendment,” Mayor Mamdani said at a recent press conference.
Police made mass arrests Thursday afternoon after hundreds of demonstrators blocked the roadway on 1st Avenue near the United Nations in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.Photo by Dean Moses 
Photo by Dean Moses