Demonstrators from Jewish Voice for Peace gathered in the lobby of Trump Tower on Thursday, protesting the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist. Khalil, a 30-year-old permanent U.S. resident, was arrested outside his New York City apartment on Saturday and faces deportation. He is being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana.
The protesters, wearing red shirts with the slogan “Jews say stop arming Israel,” chanted “Bring Mahmoud home now!” and held up banners in the building’s public atrium. After warnings from police, 98 people were arrested on various charges, including trespassing, obstruction, and resisting arrest.
Actor Debra Winger, who participated in the protest, accused the Trump administration of having “no interest in Jewish safety” and “co-opting antisemitism.” Winger expressed concern for Khalil, stating that his arrest was an “abduction” and that his attorney was initially unaware of his whereabouts.
Jewish Voice for Peace, founded in 1996, describes itself as a grassroots movement seeking to end U.S. support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. The group is one of several Jewish organizations advocating for Palestinian rights.
Protester Sophie Edelhart noted that Trump Tower, serving as the headquarters for the Trump Organization, was a symbolic target. The building’s atrium, accessible to the public, has hosted various demonstrations, both against and in support of Trump.
Khalil’s supporters argue that his arrest is an attack on free speech, and protests have been staged elsewhere in the city and country. Columbia University, where Khalil finished his master’s degree requirements in December, has been a focal point of the pro-Palestinian protest movement.
The Trump administration has revoked at least $400 million in funding from programs affiliated with Columbia, citing the university’s failure to curtail protest activity deemed antisemitic. Lawyers for Khalil and other students have filed a lawsuit to block a congressional committee from obtaining disciplinary records of students at Columbia and Barnard College.
