A large-scale anti-ICE demonstration in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday turned chaotic, with yelling, sign-holding protesters swarming the streets, fighting with police, and throwing objects at officers, resulting in at least 65 arrests.
In the shadow of City Hall, thousands of irate New Yorkers demonstrated against the continuous deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city and around the nation by taking to the streets near Foley Square.
At least 65 protesters were arrested by the NYPD at various spots throughout downtown in the vicinity of Federal Plaza as the sky turned dark, according to police sources.
According to the sources, several of the individuals in handcuffs were accused of disorderly conduct, and once the department completes a final count, more arrests are anticipated.
Several tumultuous events erupted around downtown when the sun fell, following several hours of loud protesting during the day.
The NYPD, which ordered a level three mobilisation to deal with the crowd, was met with resistance from large groups of demonstrators, many of whom were wearing keffiyehs associated with pro-Palestine political movements.
Police sources and video show that some demonstrators threw water bottles and other items at cops.
As the NYPD arrested masked protesters, others yelled, “Shame! Shame!” according to the footage.
Several demonstrators, some of whom were violent, were pepper-sprayed while being arrested.
A Post reporter saw multiple NYPD cops violently slam a woman in a black-and-white keffiyeh to the ground, seemingly hitting her head on the fallen barricades.
During the apprehension, one NYPD cop seemed to use pepper spray twice.
Police were seen on camera apprehending a masked man by his backpack in another bizarre apprehension. They also seemed to arrest his friend who tried to interrupt the NYPD stop.
Protesters gained confidence as the evening wore on.
Violent protesters threw foul remarks at police and struggled with barricades; one even blew vape smoke in a police officer’s face.
In an apparent attempt to prevent an ICE vehicle from leaving the rear of a Federal Plaza building, some masked protestors attempted to break through a police barricade in a video that a journalist posted online.
In one tense encounter, which was captured on tape, police appeared to arrest a companion who tried to block the NYPD’s initial stop while also restraining a masked man by his backpack.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Foley Square earlier in the day to stage a boisterous protest against the city’s ICE raids.
Picketers held signs that said, “ICE out of New York!” and “Abolish ICE!” “Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has got to fall!” they chanted.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Brooklyn Councilwoman Shahana Hanif were among the prominent speakers during the demonstration.
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“Everyone in my community is nervous,” Hanif said to the hysterical crowd.
“Mayor Adams has made it apparent that he has little regard for members of the working class. He is working with Trump to employ military-related strategies. Hanif charged, “He doesn’t mind ICE attacking our communities.”
Speaking across the street from the federal courtroom, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also attacked Mayor Eric Adams.
Williams stated Tuesday afternoon, “We’re in a scary situation and I have to call out the fact that Mayor Eric Adams is nowhere to be found in a city full of immigrants.”
Williams also criticised the NYPD for permitting ICE to “kidnap” citizens of the city.
Similar protests in San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago coincided with the well-attended anti-ICE event in lower Manhattan.
Following four days of violent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles County, which lasted until Tuesday night, the protests are spreading.
