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New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and a dozen other elected officials were arrested Thursday during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. The protest aimed to highlight concerns over the treatment of detainees at the facility.
Williams, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and others were attempting to access the tenth floor, where ICE allegedly detains immigrants in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. According to Wired, the demonstration was organized as a nonviolent act of civil disobedience, focusing on ICE's detention practices. The protestors demanded the removal of ICE from New York and the release of all immigrants detained at the facility.
The protest resulted in over 80 arrests, including State Senators Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport, and Gustavo Rivera, as well as Assembly Members Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Tony Simone. Fox 5 NY reported that the arrested officials were demanding legislative changes, including the passage of the New York for All Act, which would prevent local agencies from cooperating with ICE.
The NYPD and federal officers arrested the protestors, citing obstruction and safety concerns. The protestors, however, argued that their actions were necessary to bring attention to the inhumane conditions faced by detainees. According to The Guardian, the arrested officials were charged with a federal misdemeanor for blocking corridors and were later released with a court date.
The protest is part of a broader movement against ICE's practices, with activists calling for the agency's abolition and increased protections for immigrants. The demonstration at 26 Federal Plaza is one of many actions taken by elected officials and activists to challenge federal immigration policies and advocate for immigrant rights.
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