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By Gabe Whisnant
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Jewish activists filled the lobby of Trump Tower on Thursday to protest the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist who helped lead student demonstrations against Israel's war in Gaza.
Members of Jewish Voice for Peace, dressed in red shirts that read "Jews say stop arming Israel", carried banners declaring "Opposing fascism is a Jewish tradition" and "Fight Nazis, not students" while chanting, "Bring Mahmoud home now!"
NYPD confirmed to Newsweek in a phone call just after 1 p.m. that there were "multiple" arrests.
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After ordering protesters to vacate the Fifth Avenue building or face arrest, police detained at least 98 demonstrators, securing them with zip ties before transporting them in a police van and city bus about an hour into the protest.
The protesters were arrested on various charges including trespassing, obstruction and resisting arrest, a police official said at a news briefing.
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump Organization on Thursday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident married to an American citizen, was arrested outside his New York City apartment on Saturday despite not being charged with any crimes. President Donald Trump called Khalil's arrest the first of many, vowing on social media to deport students engaged in what he called "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity."
Columbia University was a key hub of the pro-Palestinian protest movement that swept U.S. college campuses last year, resulting in over 2,000 arrests.
Khalil, whose wife is pregnant with their first child, completed his Columbia master's degree requirements in December. Born in Syria, he is a grandson of Palestinians displaced from their homeland, his lawyers stated in a legal filing.
Khalil's supporters view his arrest as an attack on free speech and have organized protests in New York City and across the country. On Wednesday, hundreds demonstrated outside a Manhattan courthouse during a brief hearing on his case.
President Donald Trump has said Khalil's arrest was the first "of many to come" and vowed on social media to deport students who he said engage in "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity."
Khalil, 30, is currently detained at an immigration facility in Louisiana, following a brief stop at a New Jersey detention center.
What to Know
Kaz Daughtry, deputy mayor for public safety and a former longtime NYPD official, confirmed that no injuries occurred during Thursday's protest. However, he stated that the city will evaluate the incident and review its procedures to ensure "this cannot happen again."
Founded in 1996, Jewish Voice for Peace describes itself as a grassroots movement of American Jews dedicated to ending U.S. support for Israel's treatment of Palestinians. It is among several Jewish organizations worldwide that advocate for Palestinian rights.
Among the protesters was actor Debra Winger, who has spoken about her Jewish faith and upbringing over the years. Winger accused the Trump administration of "co-opting antisemitism" and having "no interest in Jewish safety."
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Trump Tower, the headquarters of the Trump Organization, is where the president stays when in New York and has long been a magnet for both pro- and anti-Trump demonstrations.
However, protests inside the building are rare. The multi-story atrium, open to the public, leads to retail shops and eateries, including the Trump Grill.
What People Are Saying
Winger told 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?"
Jewish Voice for Peace NYC posted on X, formerly Twitter: "As Jews, we are taking over the Trump Tower to register our mass refusal. We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalize Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government's US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people. And we will never stop fighting for a free Palestine."
What Happens Next
Khalil will remain in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana after procedural hearing in New York.
Federal judge Jesse Furman ruled today to block any deportation efforts until Khalil's attorneys and the federal government appear in court.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 3/13/25, 1 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 3/13/25, 1:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and comment from NYPD.
Update: 3/13/25, 1:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/13/25, 1:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/13/25, 1:46 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 3/13/25, 2:19 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/13/25, 5:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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