The demonstration, organised in particular by Jewish Voice for Peace, brought together around 200 people near the United Nations headquarters. Participants condemned the Israeli government’s policy and the ongoing military operations in Gaza. Placards called, in particular, for an end to arms supplies to Israel and for an end to the war. Several demonstrators blocked traffic near the UN. According to the police, they were warned to clear the road; those who remained were subsequently arrested.
Susan Sarandon was not the only well-known figure present. Actress Hannah Einbinder, best known for her role in the series *Hacks*, was also arrested. Whistleblower Chelsea Manning and several local politicians were among the demonstrators or those arrested. The organisers reported around a hundred arrests near the UN. Those taken into custody during the protest were subsequently released, according to NBC New York.
The incident is all the more symbolic given that Susan Sarandon has long been open about her activism, particularly in support of the Palestinians. She stated as recently as last year that her political views had cost her roles in Hollywood. The actress explained at the Venice Film Festival that certain projects had been taken away from her and that film industry professionals were still advising against casting her because of her statements.
At the same time, a few hundred metres away, Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing the United Nations General Assembly. Dozens of delegations walked out of the chamber at the start of his speech. The Israeli Prime Minister, for his part, defended his government’s actions and rejected the accusations of genocide levelled against Israel.
The image of Susan Sarandon being led away by the police thus encapsulates two parallel scenes from the same day: inside the UN, an Israeli leader defending his policies before the international community; on the streets of Manhattan, protesters seeking to make their voices heard. The actress’s arrest is therefore not simply linked to her having expressed her opposition to Netanyahu: it took place as part of a police operation targeting demonstrators who were blocking traffic and had failed to comply with orders to disperse. This clarification is essential to understanding the images circulating today.
For Susan Sarandon, however, the scene is part of a pattern. At nearly eight decades old, the actress has clearly not chosen to turn her status as a Hollywood legend into a quiet retirement. Whether or not one shares her views, this arrest serves as a very tangible reminder: for her, political activism does not end at the red carpet.
