After lower Manhattan raid, electeds join protests against ICE

After federal agents swarmed Manhattan’s Canal Street on Tuesday afternoon wearing tactical gear, carrying weapons and accompanied by a military-style vehicle, bystanders quickly mobilized. New Yorkers recorded, followed and yelled at the agents as they detained people. Multiple elected officials rushed to the scene. New York City Council Member Christopher Marte said he arrived about 20 minutes after federal agents made the first arrest. “I saw probably the fourth or fifth arrest that took place and was outside for the last two hours,” Marte said. “Just seeing how things developed where it went from seven ICE agents to over 80 in 30 minutes.” It’s not clear how many people were arrested in the action that targeted street vendors along the busy thoroughfare. The raid was clearly designed to attract as much attention as possible, with the military-style vehicle’s sirens blaring and lights flashing.

Later in the evening, a group of elected officials joined protesters near 26 Federal Plaza, chanting “ICE out of New York” at the intersection of Broadway and Reade Street in lower Manhattan. Protesters were supervised by dozens of NYPD officers as they marched back and forth across the crosswalks. On the scene were City Council Members Sandy Nurse, Alexa Avilés, Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won and Marte.

Also present were New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, both of whom said street vendors do not pose any sort of threat that would rise to the level of federal law enforcement. “We saw people who were armed and in tactical gear for vendors,” Williams said at a press conference in Foley Square on Tuesday evening. “None of this is about public safety. It is about fear and chaos.”

New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh called for New Yorkers to peacefully resist. “Our federal government operates in theatrics instead of supporting people as we’re seeing the affordability crisis continue to ravage this country,” he said.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.