Jewish Group Occupies Trump Tower to Protest Immigration Arrest of Palestinian Student Activist
NEW YORK – A wave of protests has erupted in New York City following the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and activist at Columbia University. The latest demonstration saw a group of Jewish organizers occupying the ground floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday, demanding Khalil’s release and decrying what they see as an unjust targeting of pro-Palestinian voices.
Approximately 300 individuals, led by the organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), gathered in the lobby of the iconic building, chanting slogans and displaying banners in support of Khalil. The protesters, clad in red shirts emblazoned with the words "Not in My Name," aimed to draw attention to Khalil’s plight and challenge the narrative surrounding his detention.
Sonya Meyerson-Knox, a spokesperson for JVP, an organization known for its criticism of Israeli policies and U.S. involvement in the Palestinian territories, articulated the group’s concerns. She explained that Khalil, a 30-year-old permanent resident of the United States, was detained by federal immigration agents over the weekend. According to officials, his immigration status was revoked, leading to his current confinement in a detention facility in Louisiana.
The protesters at Trump Tower remained in the lobby for approximately an hour, voicing their demands and making their presence felt. Law enforcement eventually intervened, with police officers removing individuals in zip ties. The New York Police Department confirmed that multiple arrests were made during the demonstration.
Speaking from the building’s lobby during the protest, Meyerson-Knox emphasized the historical context and the group’s commitment to standing against injustice. "As Jews, as people of conscience, we know our history," she stated. She characterized Khalil’s arrest as a violation of constitutional rights, warning of the potential consequences of such actions. "We know where this leads," she cautioned, alluding to past instances of persecution and repression.
The Trump Organization has yet to respond to requests for comment on the protest and the arrest of Khalil.
Jewish Voice for Peace has been actively involved in organizing protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel. These attacks resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the taking of hundreds of hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has resulted in a staggering death toll of at least 48,000 Palestinians, further fueling international outrage and calls for a ceasefire.
Video footage captured by organizers showed activists holding signs with messages such as "Come for One, Face Us All" and "Never Again for Anyone," invoking the memory of the Holocaust and the commitment to preventing future atrocities. Some signs were draped over balconies near the famous golden escalator where former President Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, adding a symbolic layer to the protest.
Khalil played a prominent role as a lead negotiator in the divisive student encampment protests at Columbia University last spring. These protests, which spread to college campuses across the country, called on universities to sever ties with Israel, including financial investments and student-exchange programs. Critics and university administrators argued that the encampments and protests created an unsafe environment for Jewish and Israeli students. New York City police eventually dismantled the encampment, leading to the arrest of several students.
Former President Trump has vowed to crack down on such demonstrations, promising to deport individuals on visas who participate in them. He has publicly stated that Khalil’s arrest is the first of many actions to come against pro-Palestinian activists, alleging that their actions are antisemitic and supportive of Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization.
Federal immigration agents detained Khalil on Saturday night at his university-owned apartment as he returned home with his wife, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant. He is currently being held in a Louisiana detention facility while his lawyers work to secure his release. To date, Khalil has not been charged with any crime.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has invoked his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to argue that Khalil’s "presence or activities" in the U.S. have "serious adverse foreign policy consequences," according to a Department of Homeland Security removal document for Khalil. This argument has raised concerns about the potential for political motivations behind the arrest.
Khalil’s arrest has sparked numerous protests throughout New York City, including a demonstration outside the Manhattan federal courthouse on Wednesday, where a hearing was held in his case.
Speaking on Wednesday, Rubio defended the decision, asserting that Khalil’s case is not about free speech. "This is about people that don’t have a right to be in the United States to begin with," Rubio told reporters. "No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card."
In response, Meyerson-Knox at Trump Tower emphasized that the demonstration was intended to defend constitutional rights related to free speech and protest. "We all have to speak up today, otherwise we will not be able to speak up tomorrow," she urged, underscoring the importance of standing up for civil liberties.
Khalil, who was born in Syria and raised in a Palestinian refugee camp, later attended Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, completing his program in December. His attorneys are actively working to challenge his detention and prevent his deportation. The case has become a focal point for discussions about immigration policy, free speech rights, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
