Nearly 90 protesters, including whistleblower Chelsea Manning, were detained during demonstrations in New York City on April 13, calling for the United States to halt arms sales to Israel, according to Al-Monitor. The protest, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and the Sunrise Movement, took place outside the New York offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The demonstrators staged a sit-in to oppose a proposed $600 million sale of US bombs to Israel, a transaction that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have not backed resolutions to block, as reported by the Times of Israel. Over 300 people participated in the protest, demanding support for Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution to stop the weapons transfer, The New Republic noted.
New York City police detained the protesters during the sit-in, with the total number of arrests reaching approximately 90, confirms The Straits Times and Daily Sabah. The protest highlights the growing political tension surrounding US military assistance to Israel amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.
The demonstration marks an intensification of grassroots efforts to influence congressional decisions on military aid, with high-profile activists like Manning bringing attention to the issue. Observers will be watching how lawmakers, particularly Schumer and Gillibrand, respond to the escalating pressure and whether the Sanders resolution gains further traction.
Chelsea Manning
Jewish Voice for Peace
Kirsten Gillibrand
Israel
Chuck Schumer
Shedeur Sanders
United States
New York
