📸 Scene outside Trump Tower: chants, signs, and flashing lights — a reminder that in New York City, activism never sleeps.
New York City — The streets of Midtown Manhattan lit up once again with chants, signs, and a heavy police presence as “Hands Off NYC” protesters gathered outside Trump Tower today to denounce ICE operations and federal immigration crackdowns.
The demonstration, organized by immigrant-rights groups and progressive activists, quickly drew hundreds of participants carrying banners reading “Abolish ICE” and “Immigrants Are Welcome Here.” Protesters filled the sidewalks and portions of Fifth Avenue, demanding that city officials push back harder against federal immigration enforcement within the five boroughs.
Police barricades lined the area early in the afternoon, as chants of “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” echoed between skyscrapers. Some demonstrators were seen holding effigies of Donald Trump and waving Puerto Rican, Mexican, and LGBTQ+ pride flags in solidarity.
The rally marks yet another flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy, detention practices, and sanctuary city protections. The “Hands Off NYC” campaign, which first gained momentum in 2019, reemerged this week after reports of increased ICE activity in several New York neighborhoods.
One organizer, speaking through a megaphone, said:
“We’re not going to let federal intimidation rule our city. We fought this fight before, and we’ll fight it again.”
Counter-protesters briefly appeared, waving American flags and shouting pro-Trump slogans from across the barricades, though police kept the groups separated.
Traffic around Fifth Avenue was temporarily diverted, and several nearby businesses closed early due to the size and energy of the crowd. As of evening, the NYPD confirmed no major arrests but noted “a few heated altercations” between demonstrators and bystanders.
This marks the latest in a growing wave of protests sweeping U.S. cities amid renewed debates over immigration enforcement under Trump’s influence in the political scene.