Police detained Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder as protesters blocked streets outside the United Nations during Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.
Story Highlights
- Police detained actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder during a New York protest tied to Netanyahu’s UN appearance.
- Demonstrators blocked First Avenue near the UN, prompting officers to take multiple people into custody.
- Photos and video showed both actresses in handcuffs as officers cleared the roadway.
- Reports varied on total detainees, ranging from more than two dozen to about 100 people.
Protest Tied To Netanyahu’s UN Address
Reporters on the scene said the protest formed outside the United Nations as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly. Demonstrators gathered along First Avenue and nearby blocks and chanted against sending weapons to Israel. Police moved in after people blocked traffic near the complex. News agencies reported that officers detained several dozen protesters during the operation as the speech and counter-programming drew global attention.
Agence France-Presse reported the protest featured banners that read “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide,” and identified Jewish Voice for Peace as an organizer. Coverage from Canada’s public broadcaster said the detentions happened as the speech was underway. Both outlets described a street blockade that triggered enforcement. Those details match images showing police forming lines to restore traffic and remove people who refused to move off the roadway.
High-Profile Detentions Caught On Camera
Agence France-Presse described video of officers cuffing Susan Sarandon, the Oscar-winning actress known for Thelma & Louise. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported photos that showed Sarandon, 79, and actor Hannah Einbinder, 31, in handcuffs. Those images circulated quickly online and drove national headlines. The focus on celebrity names echoed past protest coverage in New York, where public figures draw cameras and speed up the news cycle, even during routine mass detentions.
Wire and local reports said officers detained many people during the clearance. Some outlets noted “more than two dozen,” while others cited counts closer to 100, which is common in fast-moving street actions. Reuters-linked coverage put the number at “at least 30.” That spread reflects rolling estimates as police process groups and as organizers share their own tallies. The key fact remains that police removed a large group from a blocked avenue near the UN complex.
What Police Enforced On The Street
Reports said the New York Police Department responded after protesters sat or stood in the roadway and refused to clear the lane. That tactic, known as street blocking, typically draws warnings and then custodial action when people stay put. Crowd-control guidance stresses clear orders and documented grounds for detention, especially near high-security zones like the United Nations during major speeches. The on-scene reporting indicates officers followed a standard clear-the-street process for civil disobedience.
The protest message centered on U.S. support for Israel’s military and called for an end to weapons transfers. Organizers used coordinated signs and slogans to keep attention on that theme. Coverage also listed other public figures detained, including local officials and activists, which underscores the size and planning of the event. Celebrity involvement did not change the enforcement trigger: the moment the roadway stayed blocked, police moved to restore order and reopen traffic near the diplomatic corridor.
Numbers, Terminology, And A Note Of Caution
Different outlets used the words “detained” and “arrested” to describe the same scene. Variety noted it was not yet confirmed whether Sarandon and Einbinder were booked or briefly detained before release. That language gap often appears in mass civil-disobedience actions and can take time to resolve in public records. What is firmly established is that officers cuffed both actresses during the clearance operation and that multiple people were taken into custody near the UN.
Hollywood stars among nearly 100 arrested at NYC anti-Netanyahu protest
NYPD detained about 100 people, including Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, after an unsanctioned protest blocked a major intersection.#NewYork #Netanyahu
Read more: https://t.co/nFsYDnbhPT— Minute Brief (@theminutebrief) September 25, 2026
For readers, two takeaways stand out. First, New York police enforced standard street rules outside a sensitive site as world leaders met. Second, media fixation on famous faces can drown out the core facts and the public’s interest in clear, equal enforcement. In a city where daily life depends on order, blocking a major artery during a high-security event will draw police action every time. That is common sense, and it appears to be what happened here.
Movie star Susan Sarandon and "Hacks" actress Hannah Einbinder were among people detained by police in New York as they moved in to break up a protest against Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.https://t.co/gJhMSpl10W
— Sinar Daily (@sinardailymy) September 25, 2026
Sources:
youtube.com, afp.com, jpost.com, theguardian.com, cbc.ca, thenationalnews.com
