Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder Arrested at NYC Anti-Netanyahu Protest
On September 24, 2026, actor Hannah Einbinder was among approximately 100 protesters arrested by the New York City Police Department outside the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan. The demonstration, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to New York to address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Arrests and Protests Outside the United Nations
The demonstration drew prominent entertainment figures, including actor Susan Sarandon, Caleb Hearon, Cynthia Nixon, and Saturday Night Live star Sarah Sherman. According to a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department, officers responded to reports of an unscheduled demonstration where participants were blocking an intersection. Members of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau issued warnings advising participants to disperse before taking multiple individuals into custody for failing to comply.
Jewish Voice for Peace reported on social media that over 400 people participated in a mass sit-in demanding an end to the war in Gaza and a halt to United States military funding to Israel. Protesters held banners bearing slogans such as “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.” Photographs from the scene showed Einbinder and Sarandon handcuffed, with Sarandon wearing a t-shirt that read “Fund people not bombs.”
Einbinder and Sarandon Speak Out on Activism
Following her release, Einbinder shared a statement on her Instagram Story addressing the motivation behind her participation. She wrote that if the images of her arrest drew attention to anything, let it be to the devastating war Israel is waging against the people of Palestine and Southern Lebanon, pointing to settler attacks, home demolitions, and the bombing of sleeping populations. She criticized the United States government for welcoming the Israeli prime minister and argued that the bloodshed is an indictment of both political parties.
Sarandon has similarly faced professional consequences for her outspoken advocacy regarding the conflict. Speaking to journalists at the Venice Film Festival earlier in September 2026, Sarandon stated that she has continued to lose work because agencies have instructed people not to hire her. Despite industry pushback, she noted that she has found a community of supporters.
Simultaneous Walkout Inside the UN General Assembly
Inside the United Nations headquarters, a parallel protest unfolded as dozens of delegates walked out en masse from the General Assembly hall as Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium to deliver his address. The Israeli leader defended his country’s military actions during his speech.
National delegations split in their approach to the address. The Irish delegation chose to remain in the assembly hall. A spokesperson for Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs stated that the country has been represented for all national statements during High-Level Week, even when delivered by governments with which Ireland vehemently disagrees. Earlier during the UN proceedings, Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the General Assembly to highlight the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank while also raising human rights violations in other global conflicts.