Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Caban and Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez have been amongst dozens of protesters arrested Friday at a pro-Palestine demonstration on the Manhattan places of work of New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, in accordance with metropolis and police officers.
The demonstration, organized by the Jewish Voice for Peace group, was held to protest Schumer and Gillibrand for just lately voting in opposition to a measure that might halt U.S. arms shipments to Israel amid the battle in Gaza. Their votes got here as Israel — which is waging a battle to eradicate Hamas in retaliation for the terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault — has confronted worldwide condemnation for blocking crucial help like meals and drugs from entering into Gaza, the place the United Nations say hunger, particularly amongst kids, is changing into widespread.
Caban received her arms zip-tied earlier than being escorted onto a decommissioned MTA bus with different protesters after refusing calls from NYPD officers to disperse from the foyer of the senators’ workplace constructing on Third Ave., her spokeswoman, Arden Dressner Levy, confirmed.
Levy stated Caban, a democratic socialist who represents western Queens within the Metropolis Council, was taken into custody for “participating in civil disobedience” to demand that “Israel stop starving Gaza.”
Folks protesting with Jewish Voices for Peace occupying the foyer to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer Workplace In Manhattan Friday. (Barry Williams/New York Every day Information)
“Israeli attacks in Gaza have created the highest rate of child amputees in the world. Israel is blocking food, medicine, and baby formula from entering Gaza. Israel is systematically destroying Palestinian life and society, and Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are writing the checks,” Levy stated. “Never again is now.”
Valdez, a fellow democratic socialist who additionally reps western Queens, was additionally put in zip ties after being arrested.
Whereas being led onto the bus, Valdez instructed reporters the U.S. and Israel should cease “starving Gaza.”
NYPD officers arrest individuals protesting with Jewish Voices for Peace occupying the foyer to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer Workplace In Manhattan Friday. (Barry Williams/New York Every day Information)
“Any politician who’s not doing something about it is failing New Yorkers,” she stated.
Spokespeople for Schumer and Gillibrand didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Initially Printed: August 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM EDT
