Nearly 100 people were arrested after protesters gathered at Trump Tower in Manhattan to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.
The rally, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, saw demonstrators occupying the iconic golden atrium of Trump Tower, calling for an end to the unjust treatment of Khalil and other activists who stand in solidarity with Palestine.
The protest began around noon, with participants donning red shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Not in our Name” and “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel.” They chanted “Free Mahmoud Khalil” and unfurled banners reading “Never Again for Anyone” and “Jews Say Do Not Comply,” expressing their opposition to US policies that target Palestinian voices and activists.
As the New York Police Department (NYPD) moved in, 98 individuals were arrested, with 50 of them led away in zip ties, though no injuries or property damage were reported.
The protest came just days after Mahmoud Khalil was detained by federal agents at his home in New York following the revocation of his green card by the Trump administration.