About 100 Protesters Detained at NYC Demonstration Against Israel Arms Sales

Protesters blocked traffic on Third Avenue in Midtown Manhattan to protest U.S. weapons shipments to Israel.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:26pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in shades of blue, green, and gray depicting a chaotic urban street scene with overlapping figures and vehicles, conveying the energy and disruption of a political protest.Protesters clash with police during a demonstration against U.S. arms sales to Israel, exposing the tensions surrounding this contentious foreign policy issue.NYC Today

A protest in Manhattan on Monday against arms sales to Israel led to the police detaining about 100 people, including Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks. The demonstrators blocked traffic by sitting down in the middle of Third Avenue in Midtown, part of an effort by Senator Bernie Sanders to halt the shipment of American weapons to Israel.

Why it matters

The protest highlights ongoing tensions over U.S. military aid to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with activists seeking to pressure lawmakers to halt weapons sales. New York City has seen several high-profile demonstrations in recent years over foreign policy issues.

The details

The protesters, numbering around 200 in total, gathered shortly after noon and tried to enter the lobby of the skyscraper housing the offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at 780 Third Avenue. When they were blocked from entering the building, the demonstrators sat down in the middle of Third Avenue, blocking traffic for about an hour before police detained around 100 people.

  • The protest took place on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The demonstrators blocked traffic for about an hour before police made arrests.

The players

Chelsea Manning

The former Army intelligence analyst who leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks and was a participant in the protest.

Bernie Sanders

The Independent senator from Vermont who is leading an effort to halt U.S. weapons shipments to Israel.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader whose office building was the site of the protest.

Kirsten Gillibrand

The Democratic senator from New York whose office building was the site of the protest.

Jewish Voice for Peace

One of the activist groups that organized the protest against arms sales to Israel.

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What they’re saying

“I will be forcing a vote on legislation to block the sale of nearly half a billion dollars' worth of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli military.”

— Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The protesters were detained by police, but it is unclear if any formal charges will be filed. Senator Sanders has vowed to force a vote in Congress to block the arms sales to Israel.

The takeaway

This protest is the latest example of growing activism and civil disobedience around U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The detentions highlight the tensions between demonstrators and authorities over these contentious political issues.