Trump Tower turns into protest zone as activists demand release of Mahmoud Khalil
Demostrators inside Trump Tower in New York (Photo: Getty Images)
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist who had been detained over the weekend, reports Fox News.
Wearing red and holding signs with messages like "Free Mahmoud, Free Palestine" and "Fight Nazis Not Students," the protesters occupied the Fifth Avenue landmark. The demonstration, organized with the support of the Jewish Voice for Peace, aimed to highlight what activists described as an unjust crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices.
The NYPD responded by forcibly removing several protesters, securing their hands with zip ties. Meanwhile, Jewish Voice for Peace issued a statement explaining their motivation: "As Jews, we are taking over Trump Tower to register our mass refusal. We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalize Palestinians and their allies."
Background on Khalil’s arrest
Khalil had been arrested by ICE agents at his university-owned apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Saturday. According to his attorneys, he had been informed that his green card and student visa were being revoked.
A federal judge had temporarily blocked the deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil after his arrest by immigration authorities, a case that had sparked nationwide protests and legal challenges.
Meanwhile, his wife had publicly pleaded for his release, urging authorities to reconsider his detention.
The demonstrators vowed to continue their efforts, declaring, "We will never stop fighting for a free Palestine. If you come for one, you face us all. Free Mahmoud, free Palestine!"
