American actress Susan Sarandon was taken into custody by New York City police on Thursday as authorities moved to disperse a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to video footage and organizers.
The protest, organized by the activist group Jewish Voice for Peace, drew more than 400 participants to the streets near the United Nations, where Netanyahu was scheduled to address the General Assembly. Video captured at the scene showed officers placing handcuffs on the Oscar-winning star of Thelma & Louise.
Over 100 Detained as Police Clear Intersection
Jewish Voice for Peace stated on social media that more than 100 individuals were arrested during the sit-in. The organization described the action as a mass demonstration demanding an end to what it called a genocide and a halt to American military funding for Israel.
“We refuse to stand idly by while war criminals are given a platform to speak and our government spends billions on war,” the group posted on X, formerly Twitter.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said officers responded to an “unpermitted demonstration” that was blocking a city intersection. According to the NYPD, police instructed demonstrators to clear the area, but they “continued to block the intersection.”
“Multiple individuals who did not comply were taken into custody,” the spokesperson added, without specifying the exact number of arrests.
Other Public Figures Join the Demonstration
Sarandon, who has been vocal in her opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and recently revealed she has lost work contracts due to her political stance, was not the only public figure present. Actress Cynthia Nixon, best known for her role as Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, also participated in the rally.
The New York Post reported that Hannah Einbinder, star of the HBO series Hacks, was also detained. Protesters at the sit-in held signs reading “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.”
Following her arrest, Einbinder shared a message on Instagram urging her followers to focus on the humanitarian crisis. She criticized the Israeli military’s actions in Palestine and southern Lebanon, citing attacks on civilians and the destruction of homes.
The actress condemned the US government for what she described as welcoming “the butcher of Gaza” and expressed outrage that Netanyahu was permitted to move freely through American cities. She called on her followers to donate to the humanitarian organization Pal Humanity in Gaza.
“Let’s not confuse the spectacle with reality: it is the genocide that should be making headlines, and it is time for it to stop,” Einbinder wrote.
