Pro-Palestinian Protesters Storm New York’s Trump Tower, Demand Release of Mahmoud Khalil
Hundreds of Jewish activists stormed Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday to show solidarity with Palestinians and demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a detained Palestinian student leader.
Wearing matching red T-shirts emblazoned with the message “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel,” the protesters, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, gathered inside the iconic skyscraper—Trump’s family business headquarters and personal residence.
For over an hour, demonstrators chanted “Fight Nazis, not students,” a direct reference to Trump’s recent crackdown on foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
The protest caught security and law enforcement by surprise, with police arresting 98 people for trespassing and other charges. Protesters were loaded onto buses, including a repurposed city bus, as a helicopter and drone circled overhead.
The demonstration came amid growing tensions surrounding Khalil, a former Columbia University student and protest leader. Khalil’s arrest by immigration authorities, followed by the Trump administration’s move to revoke his green card, has sparked widespread outrage.
The administration accuses him of leading activities “aligned with Hamas,” the group responsible for the deadly October 2023 attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. His detainment has sparked strong condemnation from critics who see it as an assault on free speech, and many fear it could set a dangerous precedent for dissent.
At the same time, Columbia University announced disciplinary actions against students who had occupied a campus building last year during protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
These actions, which include expulsions and suspensions, follow the Trump administration’s decision to withhold $400 million in federal funding from the university, citing insufficient action on anti-Semitism.
In front of Trump Tower, filmmaker and Columbia Professor James Schamus spoke out against the administration’s move, saying, “New York Jews are coming out to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil and to demand that our Jewishness not be weaponized to steal the rights of American citizens and to end our democracy.”
Meanwhile, the protest unfolded amid confusion as tourists snapped photos and observed the scene while law enforcement worked to clear the protesters. Trump Tower employees noted the unusual behavior of the demonstrators, pointing out that none had headed to the restaurant, raising suspicions.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Police Chief John Chell confirmed that the protest concluded without injuries or damage, with the building’s atrium cleared in under two hours.
Jane Hirschmann, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, emphasized the historical significance of their protest, saying, “As Jews of conscience, we know our history and we know where this leads. This is what fascists do as they cement control.”
The protest highlighted mounting tensions over free speech, the rights of Palestinians, and the Trump administration’s controversial actions—issues that continue to spark widespread debate and division in the United States.
