After several hours of marching through midtown Manhattan, this Stop Starving Gaza/Stand With Gaza march has reached Columbus Circle and is winding down. I got here at the tail end of it, and I’d still say I saw thousands of demonstrators.

Here is footage of NY State Assembly Member Claire Valdez and NYC Council Member Tiffany Cabán being arrested from inside the building housing Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand's NYC offices, ~1:35pm. Cabán's was "demanding that Israel stops starving Gaza," her office told me.

Just spoke outside the building to Alexa Avilés, who left earlier and was not arrested. But Cabán and Valdez are still inside and do likely face arrest

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Police gave a warning that remaining protesters face arrest, and arrests have begun. Most of the protesters left voluntarily before arrests began, but dozens remained seated

“No genocide, let Gaza live, let aid in now”

“Not in our name, not on our dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes”

Police are starting to arrive

Protestors brought pots and pans with them and they’re making it… very loud in here. Chanting:

“From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever”
“We will not comply, Gaza we are by your side”
“Never again for anyone, never again is now”
“The whole world is watching”

“Let aid in now. Let Gaza live. Stop genocide.”

Footage from just now:

One of the men @jessicaschulberg.bsky.social and I wrote about is Ysqueibel Yonaiquer Peñaloza Chirinos. He came into the U.S. legally, through the CBP One app. His family has worked tirelessly to secure his release from CECOT. Tonight, they got to hug him again. His mother Ydalys shares this video:

I’m going to head home- here’s the tenant crowd outside, featuring a speaker from CAAAV Voice

The board just voted to approve rent increases in stabilized apartments by 3% and 4.5%, for one-year and two-year leases, respectively. Here’s the reaction in the room:

A sense of the atmosphere in here:

Meeting kicks off:

Shortly before the meeting starts: a “freeze the rent!” chant. Groups I’ve spotted here include: CAAAV CASA, the Tenant Bloc, Fifth Avenue Committee, Flatbush Tenant Coalition, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, United Neighbors Organization, and others.

“Freeze the rent” for rent-stabilized apartments is Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promise, so I came to the Rent Guidelines Board for tonight’s meeting, where Mayor Adams’ appointees are expected to vote to raise it. Meeting at 7. Lots of energy outside: