New York Police Disperse Netanyahu Protest, Arresting Around 100 People Including Hollywood Stars
New York Police Department officers arrested Hollywood star Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, star of the popular series “Hacks,” along with approximately 100 others during a crackdown on a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near United Nations headquarters.
Footage from the Associated Press showed NYPD officers handcuffing and leading away the star of the film “Thelma & Louise” during the demonstration in the city, which coincided with preparations for the Israeli prime minister to address the UN General Assembly.
The New York Post reported that Einbinder was also removed from the protest organized by the group “Jewish Voice for Peace,” where demonstrators held signs reading “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.”
The NYPD stated that its officers responded to reports of an unauthorized protest in which individuals blocked a street at an intersection.
“They continued to block the intersection, and several individuals who did not comply with orders were detained,” without specifying the number of people arrested.
The organization “Jewish Voice for Peace” reported on social media that more than 100 people were arrested.
Before Netanyahu began his address to the General Assembly, dozens of members of various countries’ delegations walked out, while some envoys shouted protests and boos.
In response, Netanyahu said, “If there are any other moral cowards who have not left this hall, let them leave now.”
He added, “They accuse Israel, small Israel, of colonialism. What kind of colonialism is this? And who accuses us? Some of them are from Britain and France,” adding that countries like those two “are the ones who coined this term.”
The American actress had told reporters at the Venice Film Festival this month that she was losing job opportunities because of her views.
She said, “I’ve lost roles in recent films because there are agencies asking people not to hire me. But that’s the nature of power.”
She continued, “I think there has been a shift in how the situation is understood and among the general public, but there are still very entrenched and strong positions within my industry held by Zionists who have not softened their negative feelings toward me.”
