Police arrest Susan Sarandon and 100 protesters outside UN General Assembly in New York

Protests at the United Nations

Demonstrators gathered on First Avenue near 39th Street in New York on Thursday, approximately two blocks from the United Nations headquarters, to protest the appearance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd wore white shirts printed with the slogan "Fund people, not bombs" and carried signs calling to stop arming Israel and end the genocide in Gaza. Activists staged a sit-in across the intersection as international leaders assembled for the diplomatic session.

Police officers from the New York City Police Department intervened when protesters blocked street traffic. An official dispersal order was issued around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, but demonstrators remained seated in the roadway. NYPD officers subsequently moved in to make arrests, taking approximately 100 people into custody after they refused repeated instructions to clear the area.

High-profile detentions and political reactions

Among those detained was Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, alongside Hacks star Hannah Einbinder. Several New York political figures were also placed in handcuffs or seen in police custody, including New York City Council members Chi Ossé and Jennifer Gutiérrez, comedian Caleb Hearon, and Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic candidate for New York's 13th congressional district. Avila Chevalier stated to PIX11 that she and her constituents intended to hold their ground regardless of police directives.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. If the police tell us to disperse, I am not going to leave. It is deeply ironic that the people who are likely facing arrest today are those calling for an end to this violence.”

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that officers instructed demonstrators to vacate the site, noting that individuals who continued to block the intersection were placed under arrest. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had previously demanded Netanyahu's arrest on war crimes allegations, though he later acknowledged that the city could not execute such a detention due to legal constraints, including the United States not being a party to the International Criminal Court. In a recorded message prior to his address, Netanyahu directly addressed the mayor, stating that he would tell the truth about him.

Walkout inside the General Assembly

Tensions extended directly into the General Assembly hall shortly after the arrests on First Avenue. As Benjamin Netanyahu walked to the podium to deliver his address, dozens of national representatives stood up and walked out of the chamber in protest. Netanyahu addressed the departing delegations from the rostrum, accusing them of moral cowardice and telling anyone who felt similarly to exit before he began speaking.

Sarandon's background in Gaza activism

The detention in New York follows repeated public statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by Sarandon. Earlier in September at the Venice Film Festival, the actress noted that her vocal opposition to the war had affected her career, referencing her termination by the talent agency UTA in 2023 following remarks at a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

“I believe the perception regarding the history of Palestine and the ties of Zionists with America and our politicians has changed. There was an important revelation: how much money the United States gives to Israel, nobody had understood until recently.”

Sarandon is scheduled to attend the Rome Film Festival for the international premiere of The Accompanist, directed by Zach Woods, where she will receive the Womenlands Excellence Award for cultural and activist contributions.