Police handcuffed Oscar winner Susan Sarandon and “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder outside the United Nations on Thursday, one of dozens of arrests during a protest timed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly.
Story Snapshot
- Susan Sarandon, 79, and Hannah Einbinder, 31, were detained by the New York Police Department outside UN headquarters on September 24, 2026.
- Video footage shows officers putting Sarandon in handcuffs as protesters blocked First Avenue ahead of Netanyahu’s speech.
- Reports on the total number detained range from about two dozen to roughly 100 people, including elected officials and other celebrities.
- Jewish Voice for Peace organized the demonstration, which carried signs reading “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide.”
- News outlets differ on whether Sarandon and Einbinder were formally arrested or simply detained and released.
Actors Detained Near UN Headquarters
Demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations building on First Avenue as Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly. Footage captured by Agence France-Presse shows New York Police Department officers cuffing Sarandon, while photos published by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation show both her and Einbinder in handcuffs. The two actors were among a much larger crowd that police moved to clear from the street.
Agence France-Presse reported that police took “multiple individuals who didn’t comply” into custody after the crowd refused to disperse. The Canadian outlet put the number of protesters detained at “more than two dozen,” while wire reports citing Reuters said police arrested “at least 30 people” during the demonstration.
Protest Organized Around Gaza War Demands
Jewish Voice for Peace organized the rally, and banners at the scene read “Stop Arming Israel” and “End the Genocide,” according to Agence France-Presse. The group’s demands centered on ending U.S. military support for Israel’s war in Gaza, a theme that has driven repeated street protests in New York and other cities since the conflict began.
The crowd was not limited to entertainers. Reporting named New York City Council member Chi Ossé and congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier among those taken into custody. The Guardian separately named actor Debra Winger, activist Chelsea Manning, and activist Linda Sarsour among the detained, showing the protest drew a mix of politicians, celebrities, and longtime organizers.
Legal Status Remains Described Inconsistently
News organizations have not settled on the same word for what happened to Sarandon and Einbinder. Variety reported it was “not yet confirmed if Einbinder and Sarandon were arrested or simply detained,” even as other outlets used the words “arrested” and “detained” interchangeably in their own coverage of the same event.
Actresses Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were among dozens arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest near the United Nations as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly.
The rally, led by Jewish Voice for Peace, blocked a street near U.N.… pic.twitter.com/NdujuScAQu
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 25, 2026
That mismatch extends to basic numbers. Some reports put the total detained near 100 people, while others cite two dozen or roughly 30. The event’s precise location is also described differently across stories, ranging from “outside the UN” to a specific mention of First Avenue and East 39th Street. No public police statement naming Sarandon or Einbinder directly appears in current reporting.
Wider Pattern of Celebrity Arrests at Protests
Civil rights researchers who study protest policing say mass demonstrations often produce this kind of loose language, even when the police response on the ground follows a set process. Department of Justice guidance on policing large protests notes that officers should have clear legal grounds before detaining anyone and that decisions on formal charges typically fall to supervisors rather than officers on the street, not the arresting officer alone.
Sarandon has a long history of arrests tied to activism, including a 1999 detention during protests over the police killing of Amadou Diallo in the Bronx. Einbinder, known for her role in the HBO comedy “Hacks,” has spoken publicly about Gaza before Thursday’s protest and issued a statement afterward criticizing Netanyahu, according to the Statesman.
What Comes Next
Neither the New York Police Department nor city officials have released arrest logs, charge sheets, or court records identifying every person detained during Thursday’s protest. Until such records surface, the public accounting of the event will continue to rely on reporter footage, organizer statements, and wire service counts rather than a single official record of who was arrested, released, or charged.
Sources:
youtube.com, afp.com, jpost.com, theguardian.com, cbc.ca, aljazeera.com
