NEW YORK – Nearly 100 protesters were arrested at a New York City demonstration on Monday, where they called on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to block the proposed sale of thousands of U.S. bombs to Israel.
The protest, organized by the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), saw hundreds of participants initially attempting to stage a sit-in at the lawmakers' offices. The group accused Schumer and Gillibrand of facilitating Israel's escalating attacks in Lebanon and supporting the U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran.
Blocked by security from entering the building, protesters stopped traffic outside while chanting slogans like “fund people, not bombs.” Police later arrested many participants and transported them via three buses.
Among those taken into custody were notable figures such as whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef, and New York City Council member Alexa Avilés.
The demonstration was centered around a series of resolutions spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders, which aim to prevent the sale of over $600 million in bombs to Israel. Previous attempts by Sanders to block similar military sales have been unsuccessful, though this recent effort garnered support from a significant portion of Senate Democrats as food insecurity and suffering deepen in regions like Gaza. Notably, Schumer and Gillibrand did not support these measures.
“This is the moment when Schumer and Gillibrand must listen to their constituents,” stated Sonya Meyerson-Knox, communications director for JVP. “The majority of Americans and New Yorkers want a resolution to what the Israeli government is doing.” Inquiries made to Schumer and Gillibrand's offices did not receive immediate responses.
