Police arrest 19 rabbis during protest at Trump hotel in NYC

NEW YORK (JTA) – Nineteen rabbis were arrested at a protest against US President Donald Trump’s refugee ban in front of the Trump International Hotel in New York City on Monday night.

The rabbis, who had gathered as part of a conference hosted by T’ruah, the rabbis’ humanrights group, were arrested for obstructing traffic in front of the hotel. After marching with a group of about 200 through Manhattan, they sat in front of the hotel and ignored repeated police warnings to disperse.

“Headed to 33rd precinct as one of 18 rabbis arrested tonight to send message that Jewish community stands with refugees & immigrants & refuses to let US close its borders again. #neveragain,” Rabbi Jill Jacobs, T’ruah’s executive director, posted on Facebook just before 9:30 p.m., about an hour after many of the protesters had left. She later clarified that 19 people were detained.

Protesters, many of them rabbis, came to the demonstration wearing prayer shawls, while others blew shofars to signal their opposition to last week’s ban on refugees and nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries, which was enacted on January 27 and temporarily stayed by a federal judge one week later.

The crowd, barricaded by police, chanted, “No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here.” Protesters held signs reading, “My people were refugees too” and “Another rabbi standing for justice.”

T’ruah is one of several liberal Jewish groups that has opposed several of the president’s policies, both during the campaign and since the election. The group has come out against Trump’s policies on immigration, refugees and civil rights, and it also opposed his appointment of Stephen Bannon as a senior adviser.