Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Caban and Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez had been amongst dozens of protesters arrested Friday at a pro-Palestine demonstration on the Manhattan workplaces of New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, in keeping 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 may halt U.S. arms shipments to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. Their votes got here as Israel — which is waging a conflict to eradicate Hamas in retaliation for the terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault — has confronted worldwide condemnation for blocking important help like meals and medication from entering into Gaza, the place the United Nations say hunger, particularly amongst youngsters, is changing into widespread.
Caban acquired her fingers 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.
Folks protesting with Jewish Voices for Peace occupy the foyer of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s workplace in Manhattan Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information)
Levy mentioned 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.”
“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 mentioned. “Never again is now.”
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 Day by day Information)
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 advised reporters the U.S. and Israel should cease “starving Gaza.”
“Any politician who’s not doing something about it is failing New Yorkers,” she mentioned.
Actor Sara Ramirez occupies the foyer of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s workplace, together with individuals protesting with Jewish Voices for Peace, in Manhattan Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information)
Spokespeople for Schumer and Gillibrand didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Initially Revealed: August 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM EDT
