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Dante de Blasio, the 29-year-old son of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, was among 66 protesters arrested Tuesday evening during an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstration at a Manhattan hotel.
The protesters occupied the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn in Tribeca for approximately 45 minutes, refusing police orders to disperse. According to ABC7NY, the demonstration began around 6 p.m. when multiple protesters entered the hotel lobby on Sixth Avenue near West Broadway.
Police issued numerous orders to vacate the premises over a 45-minute period before making arrests. Most protesters, including the younger de Blasio, were charged with disorderly conduct and issued summonses before being released without bail. Two protesters faced additional charges of obstruction of government administration for allegedly interfering with police efforts to remove demonstrators.
Following his arrest, Dante de Blasio explained his participation in the protest to the New York Daily News, stating, "ICE is operating like a rogue, authoritarian agency, snatching people, including many U.S. citizens, off the streets with impunity."
The protesters targeted the Hilton chain after it reportedly removed a Minneapolis franchise from its system for refusing to house ICE agents. Demonstrators held signs reading "Hilton stop housing ICE" and "Hilton don't let ICE stay," according to the Daily News.
The protest comes amid heightened tensions following two fatal shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this month. According to the New York Post, these incidents have sparked demonstrations in several cities.
Carly Shaffer, a 25-year-old activist with Sunrise Movement NYC, told the Daily News that protesters targeted the Tribeca hotel after receiving tips that ICE agents were staying there. However, a law enforcement source later indicated no agents were present at the hotel during Tuesday's protest.
Current Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office issued a statement through spokeswoman Dora Pekec, praising both the protesters and police response: "Mayor Mamdani commends the protesters who exercised their right to protest against ICE today. As he has said, ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens. The mayor is also pleased with the NYPD's response to the protest and that today's demonstration concluded without violence."
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