Chuck Schumer Protest: Democratic Officials Arrested at Senator’s Office

Pro-Palestinian protesters, including two sitting Democratic New York officials, were arrested by police outside the offices of New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday afternoon, according to video posted to social media.

Newsweek reached out to the offices of Schumer, Gillibrand, New York State Assembly Member Claire Valdez, New York City Councilor Tiffany Cabán, and the New York Police Department via email for comment.

Why It Matters

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza has started to turn the tide in the politics of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, many officials unequivocally backed Israel and its response; however, as images and video of mass starvation started to reach the West, many have questioned Israel and have spoken out in support of the Palestinian people.

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, one of President Donald Trump’s allies, wrote on X this week that “genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation” are happening in Gaza.

France last week announced that it plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state, and the United Kingdom threatened to do the same unless Israel agreed to take “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also announced his country will recognize a Palestinian state, but Trump has made clear he does not intend to do the same.

What To Know

Protesters from the group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) wearing shirts that said “Let Gaza Live” gathered in the lobby of the Manhattan office building that houses Schumer and Gillibrand’s offices.

The protesters, numbering in the dozens, sat on the floor with signs that read “Let Aid in NOW,” “Never Again is Now,” “Stop Arming Israel,” and “Jews to Schumer: STOP Starving Gaza.” They also chanted “Free Palestine” and “stop the genocide.”

As police started to detain the protesters with plastic zip ties, the protesters started chanting “Let Gaza Live” and “Stop Starving Gaza.”

Why Was There a Protest at Chuck Schumer’s Office?

The protesters gathered in response to the Senate’s rejection of two resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent, to block an arms deal to Israel. A majority of Democratic senators voted in support of the resolution, but neither Schumer, the Senate minority leader, nor Gillibrand joined them.

One resolution that would block the sale of assault rifles to Israel received support from 27 Democrats, while one to block the sale of more than $675 million in arms sales received support from 24 Democrats.

This marked record support from Democrats for the resolutions is an indication of shifting public opinion on Israel and the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

State Assembly Member, City Councilor Arrested at Protest

New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán was among those detained at Schumer’s office, with video capturing the moment police escorted her from the building.

A reporter on the scene asked Cabán why she was choosing “today” to protest, to which she said: “Stop starving Gaza. The U.S. is paying for the starvation and bombing of Gaza. It’s got to stop.”

The same video appeared to show New York State Assembly Member Claire Valdez escorted from the building, also with her hands tied behind her back.

The NYPD told Newsweek that as of 3:20 p.m. ET, they had recorded 26 arrests but were not able to confirm that Cabán and Valdez were among those arrested.

What Has Chuck Schumer Said About the Israel-Palestine Conflict?

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. government, said in March 2024 that the “fourth major obstacle to peace is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

“As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me, the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed—radically—since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” Schumer said.

“Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask, must we change course. At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel,” he added.

However, Schumer has faced backlash for inviting Netanyahu to address Congress in 2024, and earlier this year for saying that his job is to “keep the left pro-Israel.”

He told a New York Times columnist in March that “the greatest danger to Israel, long-term, is if you lose half of America,” and has insisted that his caucus “is overwhelmingly pro-Israel.”

What People Are Saying

A White House official told Newsweek: “As the President stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognizes a Palestinian state, and he doesn’t think they should be rewarded. So he is not going to do that. President Trump’s focus is on getting people fed.”

Jewish Voice for Peace, on X: “Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, it’s time for you to stop the blank check for Israeli genocide and forced starvation of Palestinians. As Jews, many of our own families were murdered or starved to death in a different genocide. We know the price of silence. We will not be silent now. STOP ARMING ISRAEL. STOP STARVING GAZA.”

President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that there was “real starvation” in Gaza, adding, “I see it, and you can’t fake that.” He promised the U.S. would do more to address it.