Police arrested dozens of protesters in Midtown on Monday afternoon who stopped traffic while protesting the wars in the Middle East outside the offices of New York’s Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Photo by Dean Moses
Police arrested dozens of protesters in Midtown on Monday afternoon who stopped traffic while railing against the wars in the Middle East outside the offices of New York’s Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Over 300 people, in all, gathered outside the offices at the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 50th Street just after noon on April 13, seeking entry to the senators’ quarters — but they were denied by the building’s head of security.
Once the large group realized they were not getting access to the lobby, they unfurled banners demanding an end to the wars in Iran and Gaza, and sat in the courtyard, chanting. “No more war, justice is what we are fighting for,” they called out in unison.
After about an hour of demonstrating, the group, which also consisted of elected officials like Brooklyn Council Member Alexa Aviles and activists Linda Sarsour and Chelsea Manning, took to the roadway directly outside the offices and started blocking traffic.
Together they sang as irate drivers honked their horns. Police officers began directing traffic as they waited for backup and transport vehicles. Protesters say they were looking to put the elected officials on notice ahead of an upcoming vote to fund the war overseas.
The group remained in place for about an hour until arrests were made. Some demonstrators became emotional and appeared to weep as they were literally carried away to a large bus.
While the exact number of arrests is still being tallied, police sources report that the number is over 80.
