New York City Protest: Dozens Arrested Over US Arms Sales to Israel
Dozens were detained during a New York City protest on April 13, organizers and police said. The demonstration demanded a halt to US arms sales to Israel and called for an end to U.S. military support.
The demonstration
Protesters gathered near offices of senior U.S. senators in Midtown Manhattan. The crowd assembled close to the workplaces of Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Groups included Jewish Voice for Peace. The group said about 90 people were detained.
Chants and messages
Participants chanted slogans such as “stop the bombs” and “free Palestine.” They also called for Gaza, Iran and Lebanon to be spared further violence.
- Stop the bombs
- End the killings
- Let Gaza live; let Iran live; let Lebanon live
Arrests and notable detainees
The New York Police Department confirmed multiple arrests but gave no total. Organizers supplied a higher estimate of roughly 90 detentions.
Whistleblower Chelsea Manning was among those taken into custody. Manning is a former U.S. Army soldier and a known WikiLeaks source.
Context and wider conflict
The protest occurred amid a two-week ceasefire between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran. That pause followed intense exchanges that began earlier in the year.
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran occurred on February 28. Iran later launched attacks on Israel and on Gulf states with U.S. bases.
Those strikes and counterstrikes have killed thousands and displaced millions, officials and analysts say. The fighting has also intensified scrutiny of U.S. military backing for Israel.
Policy and legal fallout
The federal administration has sought measures to curb campus demonstrations. Those steps included threats to deport some foreign students and to withhold university funding.
Court challenges have complicated enforcement of those policies. New York was a center of large pro-Palestinian actions in 2024.
Humanitarian and historical background
Rights groups have criticized U.S. support amid the Gaza war. The Gaza conflict caused tens of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, according to observers.
Israel says its military actions followed a deadly Hamas attack in October 2023. That assault killed about 1,200 people and led to more than 250 hostages taken, officials reported.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com by Kanishka Singh. Editorial editing by Filmogaz.com staff.
