Protest at Trump Tower: 98 Arrested After Rally in Support of Palestinian Activist
In New York, 98 people were detained following a protest at Trump Tower. Demonstrators demanded the release of an activist arrested for participating in demonstrations.
Photo: wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
On Thursday, March 14, a protest took place at Trump Tower in New York against the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, according to CNN.
The demonstration was organized by the Jewish human rights group Jewish Voice for Peace. Participants demanded his release after he was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Around noon, activists wearing red T-shirts with slogans such as "Not in Our Name" and "Jews Against Arms Sales to Israel" gathered in the building's atrium.
They held banners reading "Never Again – For Everyone" and "Freedom for Mahmoud Khalil."
The New York Police Department arrested 98 people, 50 of whom were restrained with plastic zip ties and placed into police vehicles. No injuries or property damage were reported.
According to the organizers, the protest was timed to coincide with Purim, the Jewish holiday symbolizing the struggle for justice.
They compared their demonstration to the actions of Queen Esther, who resisted genocide.
Khalil’s arrest marks the first case in which the Trump administration revoked an activist’s green card due to participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Lawyers argue that his detention is politically motivated pressure on foreign nationals opposing U.S. policies on Israel.
Previously, Columbia University expelled and temporarily suspended students involved in the seizure of a building during pro-Palestinian protests in the spring of 2024, according to NBC 4 New York.
Additionally, graduates who participated in the protest were stripped of their diplomas. The disciplinary measures followed a months-long investigation assessing each participant's level of responsibility.
The protest began as a tent encampment and later escalated into the blockade of Hamilton Hall. At the request of the university administration, police dispersed the demonstrators, and the university has now finalized the consequences.
Earlier, it was reported that Donald Trump proposed deploying U.S. troops in Gaza, demolishing damaged buildings, and transforming the area into an "economic paradise" by relocating local residents.