A mass demonstration at one of New York's most iconic buildings disrupted normal operations as protesters showed solidarity with detained anti-Israel activist, Mahmoud Khalil.
According to Fox News, approximately 150 protesters occupied Trump Tower's lobby in Manhattan on Thursday, March 13, demanding the release of Khalil, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over the weekend.
The protesters, many wearing red clothing, filled the historic lobby where Donald Trump launched his 2016 presidential campaign. They carried signs with messages supporting Palestine and opposing what they called the criminalization of Palestinian activists. The Jewish Voice for Peace, which helped organize the demonstration, described the action as a statement against the current administration's policies.
New York Police Department Chief John Chell reported that 98 protesters were arrested during a two-hour period. The operation proceeded without injuries or property damage, though protesters faced charges including trespassing, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest.
The demonstrators employed strategic planning, entering the building in regular clothing with protest gear concealed underneath. Police later transported arrested protesters using both NYPD vans and an MTA bus stationed outside the tower.
Among those participating in the protest was acclaimed actor Debra Winger, who has previously spoken about her Jewish heritage. She criticized the administration's handling of Jewish safety concerns and its approach to antisemitism allegations.
The protest emerged in response to ICE's arrest of Khalil at his university-owned apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Federal agents revoked his green card and student visa during the operation, sparking outrage among his supporters.
Khalil, a Palestinian raised in Syria and a permanent U.S. resident, faces potential deportation while his case proceeds through the legal system. His situation has gained additional attention due to his marriage to an American citizen who is eight months pregnant.
The Trump administration maintains that Khalil poses a national security risk and distributed pro-Hamas materials on campus. His supporters counter that the detention represents retaliation for exercising free speech rights and supporting Palestinian causes.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene took to the social media platform X to address the situation, suggesting that Trump would pursue legal action against the protesters. Her colleague, Representative Wesley Hunt, echoed these sentiments about potential consequences for the demonstrators.
Jewish Voice for Peace defended their actions through social media, framing the protest as part of a larger struggle against what they term "fascist regime" attempts to suppress Palestinian activism. The organization emphasized their commitment to continuing demonstrations until their demands were met.
Actor Debra Winger expressed her perspective to The Associated Press, stating:
I'm just standing up for my rights, and I'm standing up for Mahmoud Khalil, who has been abducted illegally and taken to an undisclosed location. Does that sound like America to you?
The Trump Tower protest represents the latest development in ongoing demonstrations following Khalil's detention by ICE agents in New York City. Nearly 100 protesters were arrested after occupying the landmark building's lobby, where they demanded the release of the Columbia University graduate student and anti-Israel activist. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked deportation efforts, Khalil remains detained in Louisiana as his case proceeds through the legal system. The incident has sparked fierce debate about free speech rights, immigration enforcement, and the treatment of Palestinian activists in the United States, with both supporters and critics closely watching the case's development.
