NYPD Clash with Pro-Khalil Protesters: Dozens Arrested Amidst Fiery Anti-Israel Demo

2025-03-12 06:01:03.489

About a dozen protesters were arrested Tuesday afternoon during a demonstration in support of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student facing deportation. The clash occurred after protesters blocked a downtown Manhattan street, ignoring police warnings. One protester was tackled during his arrest, and others taunted officers with anti-police slogans. Police issued disorderly conduct charges and summonses to those arrested. The protest, which began with approximately 350 participants at Washington Square Park and grew to around 500, involved chants against Israel and calls for Khalil's release. Khalil's detention by federal authorities has sparked a national debate, with the White House citing his "pro-Hamas" views as the reason. The protest's intensity and the arrests have highlighted tensions surrounding Khalil's case and broader issues of free speech and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. A tourist criticized protesters for hiding their faces, while a demonstrator defended Khalil, claiming he was targeted for his beliefs. The protesters viewed Khalil as a community leader whose removal would weaken their movement. Khalil, who holds a green card and is married to a pregnant US citizen, is currently being held in Louisiana, awaiting a hearing to determine the next steps in his deportation case. His legal team is fighting his detention, arguing that the federal government is targeting and suppressing his free speech.