# Almost 100 arrested during protest occupying Trump Tower over Mahmoud Khalil

Demonstrators led by Jewish Voice for Peace demanding release of Palestinian activist stood in US president’s New York City building.

## Overview

Protesters organized by a progressive Jewish group occupied the lobby of Trump Tower in  City on Thursday to demand the release of , the Palestinian Columbia University student . About 100 were arrested.

Chanted slogans included: “Free Mahmoud, free them all” and: “Fight Nazis, not students.”



Other chants in footage posted to social media : “We will not comply, Mahmoud, we are on your side” : “Bring Mahmoud home now.”

At a news briefing on Thursday afternoon, a police official said those arrested faced charges including trespassing, obstruction, and resisting arrest.

Many of the protesters in a group organizers said was more than 250-strong wore red T-shirts bearing the message “Jews say stop arming Israel”. By early afternoon, footage was  showing officers from the New York police department beginning to arrest protesters.

> Happening now: demonstrators invade Trump Tower. and call for release of student pro-Palestinian organizer Mahmoud Khalil. 

The protest in the gold-coloured lobby of ’s signature Fifth Avenue building, the US president’s New York home, was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, which  itself as “the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world” and has staged protests at New York landmarks including .

In a statement, the group said: “The detention of Mahmoud is further proof that we are on the brink of a full takeover by a repressive, authoritarian regime.

“As Jews of conscience, we know our history and we know where this leads. It’s on all of us to stand up now. Many of us are the descendants of people who resisted European fascism and far too many of our ancestors lost their lives in that struggle. We call on the strength of our ancestors and we call on our tradition, which teaches us we must never stand idly by.”

The actor Debra Winger participated in the protest.

Accusing the Trump administration of having “no interest in Jewish safety” and “co-opting antisemitism”, Winger  the Associated Press: “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?”

> NOW: "Fight Nazis, not Students!" - Protesters chant as they occupy Trump Tower in Manhattan. 

Khalil, 30, was a lead organizer of protests at Columbia University over Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.

Having completed a master’s degree, Khalil is due to graduate from Columbia in May. Though he is a legal permanent US resident and married to an American citizen, he was arrested in  last Saturday.

He is now in custody in Louisiana, without charge but held under a  immigration law provision that allows the secretary of state to approve the detention of anyone deemed a threat to US foreign policy.

His lawyer, Baher Azmy, the director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, has  the arrest “absolutely unprecedented” and “essentially a form of retaliation and punishment for the exercise of free speech”.

Amid   over pro-Palestinian protests,  say Khalil is being used as a test case for mass arrests. Trump  Khalil’s arrest is “the first of many to come”, and promised to deport students seen to be guilty of “pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity”. Khalil has not been accused of breaking any laws.

> We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side  
> 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers bc we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent  
> COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL 

On Thursday, Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, who is eight months pregnant, spoke to Reuters. She said Khalil asked her a week ago if she knew what to do if officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) came to the door of their home.

“I didn’t take him seriously. Clearly I was naive,” she said.

She added: “I think it would be very devastating for me and for him to meet his first child behind a glass screen.”

Khalil “is Palestinian and he’s always been interested in Palestinian politics”, she said. “He’s standing up for his people, he’s fighting for his people.”

> Now: "Fight Nazis, not Students!" - Protesters chant as they occupy Trump Tower in Manhattan. 

Sonya E Meyerson-Knox, director of communications for Jewish Voice for Peace,  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights and scapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.

Meyerson-Knox  footage of the Trump Tower protest on Thursday and said: “We will not comply - Mahmoud we are in your side, 300 Jews and friends in Trump Towers   we know what happens when an autocratic regime starts taking away our rights andscapegoating and we will not be silent COME FOR ONE - FACE US ALL”

Jewish Voice for Peace said descendants of Holocaust survivors were among the protesters.
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