Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Caban and Assemblywoman Claire Valdez were among the dozens of protesters arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Friday outside the Manhattan offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and aimed to criticize Schumer and Gillibrand for their votes against a measure to halt U.S. arms shipments to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
This military conflict has drawn international concern due to allegations of Israel’s blockade of aid, including food and medicine, to Gaza. The situation has reportedly led to alarming levels of starvation, particularly affecting children, according to United Nations reports.
Caban faced arrest after she and other protesters refused to leave the senators’ office building, resulting in her hands being zip-tied and escorted onto an MTA bus, as confirmed by her spokeswoman, Arden Dressner Levy.
Levy emphasized Caban’s intention to engage in civil disobedience to highlight the urgency of stopping the blockade of Gaza by Israel.
“Israeli attacks in Gaza have created the highest rate of child amputees in the world,” Levy stated. “Israel is systematically destroying Palestinian life and society, and Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are complicit in this by funding these actions.”
Valdez, who shares similar political views with Caban, was also arrested and zip-tied after joining the protest.
While being led away, Valdez condemned the actions of both the U.S. and Israel and stated, “Any politician who’s not doing something about it is failing New Yorkers.”
The protest began with chants and noise made from pots for about 45 minutes while protesters sat on the lobby floor, united in their demand for action.
Approximately an hour after being warned to disperse by the police, arrests began. Among those who chose to leave when instructed were fellow City Council members Jennifer Gutierrez and Alexa Avilés, who continued to chant outside in solidarity.
Gutierrez commented on the humanitarian crisis, saying, “Children are dying or being starved, and we’re supporting it with our tax dollars. This goes far beyond a land dispute.”
Avilés reiterated the moral obligation, stating, “When you look at what’s happening to the children and families in Gaza, arrest is nothing compared to the real suffering there. We want an end to the war and for people to live with dignity.”
At the time of the protests and subsequent arrests, neither Schumer nor Gillibrand was present in their offices.
Senator Schumer later issued a statement acknowledging the dire situation in Gaza, calling it “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He urged the need for humanitarian assistance to be delivered urgently to the innocent Palestinians affected by the conflict.
A representative for Senator Gillibrand did not provide a comment immediately following the incident.
The demonstration reflected widespread frustration and concern over U.S. foreign policy in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with participants demanding not just an end to the current military actions, but also a reevaluation of the financial support provided to Israel.
Around 200 protesters participated, with nearly 50 arrests made throughout the event, demonstrating a growing urgency among certain political figures and activists to advocate for change in U.S. policies regarding the Middle East crisis.
The event serves as a significant example of the increasing visibility of activists challenging government decisions on foreign aid and military support in the wake of humanitarian crises.
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