Media Roundup: Fight Nazis, not students.

_{Photo courtesy of Alexa Blair Wilkinson, @alexabwilkinson}

As Trump and the rest of the far-right escalate their crackdown on the Palestine solidarity movement, we are refusing to comply.

On March 13, a few days after DHS agents abducted student activist Mahmoud Khalil, hundreds of anti-Zionist Jews and allies held a sit-in at Trump Tower in New York City to demand Mahmoud’s release. Clad in red T-shirts with the messages “Not in our Names,” and “Stop arming Israel,” protesters took over the building’s lobby, carrying signs that read “Fight Nazis, not students,” “Free Mahmoud, Free Palestine,” and “You can’t deport a movement.”

Police arrested at least 100 people — including Jewish elders, descendants of Holocaust survivors, and students, dragging them out of Trump Tower by their arms and legs.

JVP’s sit-in at Trump Tower made headlines at major media outlets across the United States and around the globe. See more below.

Protesters Back Khalil at Trump Tower: ‘Fight Nazis, Not Students’, The New York Times, March 13, 2025

“We all know that if anything, Columbia is a hotbed of students raising their voice and conscience, and in protest against the inhumane policies that this regime is imposing” – James Schamus 

Nearly 100 protesters arrested after sit-in at Trump Tower in NYC to demand release of Mahmoud Khalil, NBC, March 13, 2025

“My grandmother lost her cousins in the Holocaust. I grew up on these stories. We know what happens when authoritarian regimes begin targeting people, begin abducting them at night, separating their families and scapegoating. And we know that it’s one step from here to losing all right to protest and then further horrors happening, as we have seen too well in our history ”

_{– Sonya Meyerson-Knox, Communications Director, JVP}

Khalil protesters fill up Trump Tower, The Hill, March 13, 2025

“As Jews of conscience, we know our history and we know where this leads. This is what fascists do as they cement control. This moment requires all people of conscience to take bold action to resist state violence and repression. Free Mahmoud now,” said Jane Hirschmann

Trump Tower takeover: Here is what it was like on NYC’s 5th Avenue as pro-Palestine protesters were dragged out by cops, Independent, March 14, 2025

“We see that the president is taking action in the name of combating anti-semitism. And so we’re here to say, get our name out of your mouth. This is not about Jewish safety. This is about an attack on students.”

_{Jay Saper, JVP member}

Jewish Voice for Peace protests inside Trump Tower after Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest, USA TODAY, March 13, 2025

Jewish protesters storm Trump Tower demanding release of Columbia graduate student, ABC, March 13, 2025

Protesters arrested after storming Trump Tower to demand release of Mahmoud Khalil, CNN, March 13, 2025

“I am here in adherence to what my ancestors taught me because I have been taught what happens when authoritarian regimes start scapegoating people. And I know that if we don’t speak up today, we will not be able to speak up.”

_{– Sonya Meyerson-Knox, Communications Director, JVP}

Amid bursts of resistance, Trump administration squeezes colleges over pro-Palestinian protests as activist remains detained, CNN, March 15, 2025

“As Jews, we’re here today, mere hours before the holiday of Purim begins – a holiday where we honor Esther who used her voice to speak out and demand that the king not commit genocide,” the woman said in the video. “Today we are using her same courage to speak out.”

Jewish protesters arrested after storming Trump Tower, CNN, March 13, 2025

Trump Tower protest against Mahmoud Khalil’s detention ends in 98 arrests, The Washington Post, March 13, 2025

“They’re saying he’s the first, and then they’ll go after anyone they can. This is what we read about — how fascism creeps up little by little.”

_{– David Bragin} 

Protesters supporting Mahmoud Khalil occupy Trump Tower lobby, Fox News, March 13, 2025

“We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalize Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government’s US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people. And we will never stop fighting for a free Palestine. If you come for one, you face us all. Free Mahmoud, free Palestine.”

Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower lobby to demand Columbia University activist’s release; Dozens arrested, NYPD says, Haaretz, March 13, 2025

“The abduction of Mahmoud Khalil by the Trump regime is further proof that we are on the bring of a full takeover by an authoritarian regime. As Jews of conscience, we know our history and we know where this leads…free Mahmoud Now!”

_{– Jane Hirschmann}

Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower’s lobby to demand the Columbia University activist’s release, The Associated Press, March 13, 2025

“I’m standing up for Mahmoud Khalil, who has been abducted illegally and taken to an undisclosed location. Does that sound like America to you?”

_{– Debra Winger}

“We will not be silent”: Protesters occupy Trump Tower demanding Mahmoud Khalil’s release Demonstrators from Jewish Voice for Peace called for the release of the Palestinian activist, Salon, March 13, 2025

Nearly 100 anti-Israel protesters arrested after invading NYC’s Trump Tower to demand Mahmoud Khalil’s release, New York Post, March 13, 2025

Dozens arrested after holding sit-in at New York’s Trump Tower, CBS News, March 14, 2025

Jewish anti-Zionist protesters storm NYC’s Trump Tower in support of Mahmoud Khalil, Times of Israel, March 13, 2025

“We will not stand by as this fascist regime attempts to criminalize Palestinians and all those calling for an end to the Israeli government’s US-funded genocide of the Palestinian people.”

Jewish Americans and Allies Occupy Trump Tower Demanding Release of Mahmoud Khalil, Common Dreams, March 13, 2025

Protesters occupy Trump Tower following arrest of Columbia student, Reuters, March 14, 2025

Jewish protesters flood Trump Tower to demand activist Mahmoud Khalil’s release, PBS, March 13, 2025

Jewish Protesters Takes Over Trump Tower to Demand Release of Mahmoud Khalil, Democracy Now!, March 13, 2025

 “We know that fascist regimes try these things. They test these cases. They try to see if people will comply, if people will roll over and allow them to force this kind of illegal, undemocratic activity on us. And we believe that it’s deeply important to stand up in these kinds of moments, to say that we will not sit idly by, we will not comply. ‘Never again’ means right now. ‘Never again’ means for everyone. What happened to Mahmoud should never have happened, and we’re not going to let it happen to anyone else.”

_{– Nate Cohen, Student Organizer, JVP}