Oscar winner Susan Sarandon and Hacks star Hannah Einbinder were among demonstrators taken away by police during a protest in New York on Thursday.
The demonstration took place ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned address to the United Nations General Assembly. Sarandon was filmed being placed in handcuffs as police intervened, while Einbinder was also led away from the protest.
The demonstration was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, with protesters carrying signs calling for an end to US arms supplies to Israel and an end to the war in Gaza. New York police said officers responded after receiving reports of an unannounced demonstration in which people were blocking an intersection.
Both Sarandon and Einbinder are well-known actors, but they have also been outspoken about the situation in Gaza. Sarandon has participated in previous protests connected to the war.
Earlier this month, while attending the Venice Film Festival, Sarandon spoke about the professional consequences she believes she has faced because of her political views. She said she had continued to lose film opportunities because some agencies were telling people not to hire her, describing the situation as connected to the power structures within the industry.
At the same time, Sarandon said she felt that more people were beginning to understand the situation, although she believed influential figures in Hollywood were attempting to work against her.
Einbinder has also previously spoken openly about Palestine and the risks of expressing her views publicly. She has said that, for her, remaining silent would come at a greater cost than putting her Hollywood career at risk.
The Hacks star has pointed to the backlash experienced by other performers, including Sarandon and actress Melissa Barrera. Einbinder has said that she does not believe her career can be compared with a single human life and that speaking out is a responsibility she intends to continue carrying.
The New York protest has now brought both actresses into the spotlight once again, after police intervened and removed them from the demonstration.
