On Thursday, a large demonstration took over the iconic Trump Tower in New York City, with protesters demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student detained by U.S. immigration authorities. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the protest led to nearly 100 arrests.

Protesters Flood Trump Tower

Over 250 protesters filled the gold-accented lobby of Trump Tower. Chanting slogans like “Free Mahmoud, free them all” and “Fight Nazis, not students,” the crowd made their message clear. Many wore red shirts with the message “Jews say stop arming Israel.”

By early afternoon, New York City police began making arrests, with charges including trespassing, obstruction, and resisting arrest. The protesters framed the demonstration as a stand against what they see as a growing wave of authoritarianism under the Trump administration.

Jewish Voice for Peace, which organized the protest, is the world’s largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist group. The organization has held similar demonstrations at prominent New York landmarks in the past, including Grand Central Station.

In a statement, the group linked Khalil’s detention to a wider threat to civil liberties. “As Jews of conscience, we recognize the warning signs. Our ancestors resisted fascism, and too many of them lost their lives in the fight. We refuse to stand by in silence,” the statement said.

Among the protesters was actress Debra Winger. She spoke to the Associated Press, saying, “I’m here to stand up for Mahmoud Khalil and for democracy. He was taken illegally and sent to an undisclosed location. Does that sound like justice?”

Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest

Khalil, 30, had been involved in organizing pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Despite his legal status as a U.S. resident and his marriage to an American citizen, Khalil was detained by immigration authorities in New York on Saturday.

He was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, where he remains under a rarely used provision of immigration law. The law allows the Secretary of State to detain individuals deemed threats to U.S. foreign policy. Khalil’s lawyer, Baher Azmy, the director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, called the arrest an “extreme and unprecedented act of political retaliation.”

Critics argue that Khalil’s detention is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to silence pro-Palestinian activists. Trump himself has defended the arrest, calling it “the first of many to come.” He also vowed to deport students involved in “pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity.” However, authorities have not accused Khalil of committing any crime.

Khalil’s Wife Speaks Out

On Thursday, Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, who is eight months pregnant, spoke to Reuters about her husband’s detention. Abdalla revealed that her husband had anticipated his arrest, saying, “I thought he was overreacting. Now I realize I was wrong.”

She added, “I can’t bear the thought of him meeting our child through a glass screen. Mahmoud has always fought for Palestinian rights, and he refuses to be silenced.” Abdalla’s emotional plea highlights the personal toll of Khalil’s detention.

On Wednesday, Abdalla issued a statement through her lawyer demanding her husband’s release. “My husband was taken from our home. The U.S. government continues to hold him because he dared to stand up for his people. This is an outrage,” she said.

Jewish Activists Warn of Dangerous Precedent

Jewish Voice for Peace has emphasized the historical significance of Khalil’s arrest. Spokesperson Sonya E. Meyerson-Knox shared footage from the protest, warning that such actions could lead to dangerous consequences. “We have seen this before. When governments scapegoat, detain, and silence voices, worse things follow. We refuse to stay silent,” she said.

Holocaust survivors’ descendants also joined the demonstration. Meyerson-Knox, whose grandmother lost relatives in the Holocaust, explained the deeper motivation behind the protest. “I grew up hearing these stories. We know where this leads. If we don’t speak up today, we won’t have the chance tomorrow.”

As tensions continue to rise, activists vow to continue their fight for Khalil’s release and to raise awareness about what they see as a dangerous attack on civil liberties in the U.S.

A Call to Action

The protest at Trump Tower is just one of many demonstrations that have occurred in recent weeks. Protests have erupted across the country in response to Khalil’s arrest and the broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism. Jewish Voice for Peace has promised to keep pushing for Khalil’s release, emphasizing that his case is a test for the future of political dissent in the United States.

Activists fear that the detention of Khalil sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of political activists, especially those advocating for Palestinian rights. They argue that this is not just an attack on Khalil, but on the right to free speech and political activism itself.