Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier arrested at Netanyahu protest in New York

Darializa Avila Chevalier, the progressive Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th Congressional District, was arrested on September 24, 2026, during a major anti-Israel protest outside the United Nations in New York City. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the demonstration blocked traffic to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's General Assembly address. Chevalier, arrested alongside local council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés and celebrities Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, condemned U.S. funding of Israel and labeled Netanyahu a war criminal.

Arrest of Darializa Avila Chevalier

• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York's 13th Congressional District, was arrested on September 24, 2026, during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier stated prior to her arrest on September 24, 2026, that she would refuse police orders to disperse from the roadway, anticipating her subsequent detention.
• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier was charged with disorderly conduct by the New York Police Department following her arrest at the United Nations protest on September 24, 2026.

Darializa Avila Chevalier's political platform

• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated five-term incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat in the June 2026 Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District, running on a progressive, anti-war platform.
• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier criticized the establishment of both major American political parties for continuing to fund the Israeli military with billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer money.

Details of the United Nations protest

• ▪The New York Police Department arrested between 30 and 104 activists during the September 24, 2026, demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters.
• ▪The anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace organized the September 24, 2026, demonstration outside the United Nations, which drew between 200 and 250 protesters who blocked traffic on First Avenue.
• ▪Protesters at a September 24, 2026, demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace outside the United Nations wore white T-shirts reading 'Fund people not bombs' and blocked the roadway until police officers removed and zip-tied them

Arrests of New York City Council members

• ▪New York City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés were arrested by police during a September 24, 2026, demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace outside the United Nations
• ▪New York City Council member Chi Ossé stated during his detention on September 24, 2026, that he was tired of taxpayer dollars funding what he described as an active genocide in Gaza

Celebrities detained at the protest

• ▪Whistleblower Chelsea Manning, comedian Caleb Hearon, and actor Elliot Page were also detained or present at a September 24, 2026, anti-Netanyahu demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace in New York City
• ▪Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Emmy-winning actress Hannah Einbinder were arrested by police during the September 24, 2026, protest outside the United Nations.

War crimes allegations against Benjamin Netanyahu

• ▪Darializa Avila Chevalier characterized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'war criminal' who belongs at The Hague rather than addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
• ▪The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the Gaza conflict.

Debatable claims

• ▪U.S. military aid to Israel does more harm than good
• ▪U.S. politicians should risk arrest to protest foreign leaders accused of human rights abuses
• ▪Blocking public roadways is a justified tactic for peaceful protest