Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon and Hacks star Hannah Einbinder were taken into custody by the New York Police Department on September 24, 2026, during an unscheduled demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace. The protest coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s preparations to address the United Nations General Assembly.
Police Intervene as Demonstrators Block Manhattan Intersection
The protest drew activists carrying banners with slogans such as “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.” According to an NYPD spokesperson, officers approached the gathering after receiving reports of an unpermitted demonstration blocking a intersection. Members of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau issued multiple dispersal warnings before taking action. “They continued to block the intersection. Several individuals who failed to comply with those orders were taken into custody,” the NYPD spokesperson stated. Video footage from Agence France-Presse showed officers placing handcuffs on Sarandon and leading her away from the roadway. The New York Post confirmed that Einbinder was similarly detained and removed from the site.
Diplomatic Walkouts and Speech Confrontations Inside the UN
Inside the General Assembly hall, Netanyahu’s address sparked immediate diplomatic friction as dozens of delegates walked out of the chamber before he began speaking. During his address, the Israeli prime minister criticized nations that have recently challenged Israeli policies, specifically targeting the United Kingdom and France for their recent steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state. “They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism. And who is accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and France. Good grief, they invented the term,” Netanyahu told the assembly.
Fallout and Industry Backlash Discussed by Sarandon
The arrest marks another high-profile political action for Sarandon, who has frequently participated in protests opposing the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Earlier in September at the Venice Film Festival, the actress told reporters that her vocal stance on the conflict had carried professional consequences in Hollywood. “I’m still missing a couple of new movies because there have been agencies telling people not to hire me. But that’s the power structure,” Sarandon said in Venice. While noting a shift in public awareness regarding Gaza, she added that strong institutional resistance remains within the entertainment sector. “I think there has been a change in terms of the understanding of that situation and the general public, but there is still a very strong position within my industry that is held by Zionists and they haven’t loosened their feelings about me,” she stated.
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