The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a federal lawsuit against Northwestern University, claiming the school’s mandatory antisemitism training program violates civil rights protections and suppresses pro-Palestinian advocacy. The complaint, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, accuses Northwestern of forcing students to complete a 17-minute bias-training video produced by the Jewish United Fund as a condition for class registration. CAIR brought the case on behalf of Graduate Workers for Palestine, a student group that argues the policy punishes those who refuse to align with a specific political viewpoint on Israel. According to the lawsuit, roughly 300 students who declined to watch the video were blocked from registering for classes. Dozens of others remain on registration hold, and the university has warned that those who continue to resist the training could lose their student status by early 2026. The lawsuit argues that the training conflates Judaism and Zionism, framing criticism of Israeli policy as antisemitism and labeling pro-Palestinian speech as hate. It claims this violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The video at the center of the dispute defines Zionism as the Jewish right to self-determination and describes anti-Zionism as opposition to that right. It includes a series of statements designed to show similarities between anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitic tropes. CAIR contends that this approach silences Palestinian students and others who oppose Israeli policies or support movements for Palestinian self-determination. The suit further challenges Northwestern’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, arguing that it unfairly restricts protected speech and enforces a political orthodoxy on campus. Legal analysts and Jewish advocacy groups have dismissed the lawsuit as a misrepresentation of federal law and an attempt to deter universities from combating antisemitism. They maintain that antisemitism training programs are consistent with civil rights standards and comparable to other forms of bias prevention training. Northwestern’s defenders argue that anti-Zionism has increasingly served as a cover for antisemitic behavior, and that education about the connection between anti-Zionist rhetoric and hostility toward Jews is necessary to protect Jewish students from harassment. They point out that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is widely accepted by governments, universities, and institutions across the political spectrum, and that similar anti-bias modules are standard practice in higher education. They also dispute the claim that Northwestern’s protest policies amount to censorship, describing them as routine “time, place, and manner” rules that apply equally to all student groups and demonstrations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A Department of Homeland Security investigation has uncovered that officials at FEMA, under Joe Biden’s administration, refused to assist disaster victims who displayed backing for President Donald Trump, according to findings released Tuesday.
The probe determined that this politically driven bias stretched across multiple disasters — from Hurricane Ida in 2021 through Hurricane Milton in 2024 — revealing a pattern of discrimination within the federal relief agency.
According to the DHS Privacy Office, FEMA staff “systematically bypassed” properties showing support for Trump or gun rights, collecting political data on residents in direct violation of the Privacy Act of 1974. The report condemned the actions as “a troubling overreach” that turned government disaster response into a political weapon.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sharply criticized the revelations, declaring, “The federal government was withholding aid from Americans based on their political beliefs — this should horrify every citizen.”
The 50-page report detailed instructions allegedly given to field workers to skip “homes advertising Trump.” In Florida alone, at least 20 households were reportedly denied immediate help following Hurricane Milton.
Investigators also found that FEMA employees gathered and stored information about survivors’ political leanings — a breach DHS said “demonstrated a failure to protect data integrity and fairness.”
The misconduct, the report noted, was not isolated to one disaster or region. Despite previous testimony from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell suggesting otherwise, investigators concluded the practice occurred repeatedly across several states.
The DHS findings said FEMA broke the Privacy Act by creating a secret database that linked personal details of aid applicants to their political beliefs.
Some FEMA workers reportedly defended their actions by saying “avoid homes advertising Trump” was shorthand for “avoid hostile homes.” Investigators dismissed that explanation, stating it had no foundation in FEMA policy or safety protocol.
The report emphasized that FEMA’s training materials never defined what qualified as a “hostile” situation, leaving employees to make judgment calls based on personal prejudice rather than official standards.
The inquiry outlined years of wrongdoing that included ignoring certain households, collecting unauthorized political data, and failing to report privacy breaches to DHS headquarters. Not a single privacy incident report was filed by FEMA between 2021 and 2024, despite clear evidence of improper data handling.
In response, Secretary Noem has referred the matter to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. She also ordered the DHS inspector general to conduct an additional review, suspended FEMA’s door-to-door survey initiative, and implemented tighter supervision of data-gathering practices.
The DHS report further recommends outlawing open-ended data entry that allows field workers to add political observations, as well as mandating retraining on lawful data-collection standards. FEMA will also be required to clearly define what constitutes genuine “safety” or “hostility” concerns to prevent political expression from being treated as a threat.
Critics say the revelations confirm what many have long suspected — that disaster response was being used as a political weapon against Trump supporters. DHS investigators warned that the scandal has already “eroded public trust” and endangered lives by slowing emergency assistance for partisan reasons.
“The American people expect FEMA to help all survivors — period,” Noem said. “We’re making sure this kind of abuse never happens again.”
{Matzav.com}
Stunning footage captures the moment a climber reaches Mount Everest’s 8,848-meter summit and launches a drone to film the breathtaking panorama from the top of the world.
Myanmar’s military has shut down a major online scam operation near the border with Thailand, detaining more than 2,000 people and seizing dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals, state media reported Monday. Myanmar is notorious for hosting cyberscam operations responsible for bilking people all over the world. These usually involve gaining victims’ confidence online with romantic ploys and bogus investment pitches. The centers are infamous for recruiting workers from other countries under false pretenses, promising them legitimate jobs and then holding them captive and forcing them to carry out criminal activities. Scam operations were in the international spotlight last week when the United States and Britain enacted sanctions against organizers of a major Cambodian cyberscam gang, and its alleged ringleader was indicted by a federal court in New York. According to a report in Monday’s Myanma Alinn newspaper, the army raided KK Park, a well-documented cybercrime center, as part of operations starting in early September to suppress online fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border cybercrime. It published photos displaying seized Starlink equipment and soldiers said to be carrying out the raid, though it was unclear when exactly they were taken. KK Park is located on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a major trading town on the border with Thailand in Myanmar’s Kayin state. The area is only loosely under the control of Myanmar’s military government, and also falls under the influence of ethnic minority militias. Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the military government, charged in a statement Monday night that the top leaders of the Karen National Union, an armed ethnic organization opposed to army rule, were involved in the scam projects at KK Park. The allegation was previously made based on claims that a company backed by the Karen group allowed the land to be leased. However, the Karen, who are part of the larger armed resistance movement in Myanmar’s civil war, deny any involvement in the scams. Myanma Alinn said the army ascertained that more than 260 buildings were unregistered, and seized equipment, including 30 sets of Starlink satellite internet terminals. It said 2,198 individuals were detained though it did not give their nationalities. Starlink is part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and the terminals link to its satellites. It does not have licensed operations in Myanmar, but at least hundreds of terminals have been smuggled into the Southeast Asian nation. The company could not be immediately reached for comment Monday but its policy bans “conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive.” There have been previous crackdowns on cyberscam operations in Myanmar earlier this year and in 2023. Facing pressure from China, Thailand and Myanmar’s governments launched an operation in February in which they released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds, working with the ethnic armed groups that rule Myanmar’s border areas. (AP)
In the city of Volodymyr, located in Ukraine’s Volyn region near the Polish border, workers renovating the old infectious diseases hospital—known locally as the “Red Hospital” for its distinctive red-brick construction—made a surprising discovery. While dismantling old oak doorframes, they uncovered several mezuzahs, one of which was remarkably well preserved.
The workers had initially planned to saw the wooden frames and use them for firewood, but upon removing the doors, they noticed small cavities containing the mezuzahs. Local historian and researcher of Jewish heritage Volodymyr Muzichenko, who also heads the city’s Jewish community, told Ukrainian Jewish media that one of the mezuzahs still contained a readable klaf. He noted that the “Red Hospital” had once operated under Jewish administration in earlier centuries.
Volodymyr—historically known as Ludmir—was home to prominent chassidic figures, including Rav Shlomo of Karlin, a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, and Rav Aharon Hagadol of Karlin, who settled in the city in 1786. According to historical accounts, Rav Shlomo was killed in Ludmir in July 1792 when Russian forces captured the city from the Poles. His gravesite remains in the city’s ancient Jewish cemetery, which continues to attract visitors and mispallelim.
Muzichenko added that he learned of the discovery from Anton Budnevsky, whose grandparents, Matvey and Kateryna Budnevsky, had saved a young Jewish girl, Freda Shifer, during the Nazi occupation. The couple was later recognized by the State of Israel as Righteous Among the Nations for their heroism.
In a separate incident, Olesya Vavrykhnya, a resident of Khmelnytskyi, unearthed fragments of old Jewish tombstones in her yard. She shared photographs of the find on social media and asked what she should do with them. The United Jewish Community of Ukraine reached out to her and advised transferring the tombstone fragments to the nearest Jewish cemetery—located about 500 meters from her home—so they could be respectfully reburied.
{Matzav.com}
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced early Wednesday that the two hostage bodies were returned from Gaza overnight have been identified as Arie “Zalman” Zalmanowicz, 85, and Tamir Adar, 38 — both residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the hardest-hit communities in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre. Zalmanowicz, a founding member of Nir Oz and one of Israel’s oldest hostages, was abducted from his home during the Hamas invasion and died in captivity. Adar, a father of two, was killed while defending his kibbutz as part of its volunteer emergency response team. Hamas gunmen later took his body into Gaza. The return of their remains, coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, comes amid a fragile ceasefire under which Hamas has been releasing the bodies of slain hostages in exchange for the repatriation of Palestinian dead from Israel. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Zalmanowicz was kidnapped after texting his son that terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz. Hamas later released a video showing him bleeding and being transported on a motorcycle into Gaza. He was officially declared dead in November 2023 based on intelligence gathered by the IDF but could not be laid to rest until now. A pioneer of the Negev and one of Nir Oz’s founders, Zalmanowicz was remembered by his kibbutz as a man “of agriculture, manual labor, and blue work clothes — a farmer by blood who understood the land and its rhythm.” Adar, by contrast, represents the next generation of Nir Oz. When Hamas began its attack, he joined the local defense team, telling his wife and children to remain in their safe room. He was killed in combat as terrorists stormed the kibbutz — a final act of defiance that saved lives. “He fought to the last bullet,” a Nir Oz security volunteer said. “Tamir didn’t run. He stood his ground.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
PRESS SEC: “As President Trump very clearly stated in the Oval Office today, he will gladly meet with Democrats to talk about healthcare or whatever other issue they want to talk about… but he’s not going to have those conversations until Democrats simply vote to reopen the government.”
PRESS SEC: “With all due respect to my predecessor, she’s one of the main culprits of the greatest coverups and scandals in American history. She took the podium every day and lied to the press about the incompetence of her boss.”
Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded on Tuesday after their tank was struck by an explosive device in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, the military said. Both soldiers were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and their families have been notified, according to the IDF. The explosion occurred around 12:30 p.m. as troops were conducting operations to clear the area of potential threats.
A small Cessna made an emergency landing on Mission Beach in San Diego this morning after its engine began to fail over Bird Rock. The pilot, flying with his daughter, managed to touch down safely on the shore without injuries. Witnesses praised his precision, calling it the “perfect spot” to land.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that one of the bodies returned from Gaza has been identified as that of Arie “Zalman” Zalmanowicz, 85, of Kibbutz Nir Oz. The second hostage has also been identified, but the family has not yet authorized the release of the name. Zalmanowicz was abducted from his home during Hamas’s brutal October 7, 2023 massacre and tragically passed away while in captivity.
President Trump says he won’t meet with Democratic leaders in Congress until the government is reopened. “They’re doing this because they have Trump derangement syndrome.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to replace National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, according to a statement Hanegbi published on Tuesday. The announcement comes after reports of several disagreements between the two, with sources saying that Hanegbi was in favor of a “weak” military policy. Hanegbi opposed the launch of Operation Gideon Chariots II in Gaza, contrary to the majority opinion in the cabinet, as well as the attack in Doha last month. According to Hebrew reports, senior sources familiar with the details said that there was increasing tension between Netanyahu and Hanegbi. “It had been in the air for months, and everyone estimated that the explosion was only a matter of time,” they said. The sources added that frequent disputes erupted between the two during cabinet meetings. “In many cases, Hanegbi did not align with the prime minister’s positions,” they noted, and made clear that the disagreement intensified particularly during Operation Gideon Chariots II and over the hostage deal. Due to the tension between them, Hanegbi did not join Netanyahu on his visit to the US last month. Hanegbi wrote that “in light of the prime minister’s intention to appoint a new head of the National Security Council, I will end my tenure as National Security Adviser and head of the NSC effective immediately. “I thanked the prime minister for the privilege of taking part in shaping Israel’s foreign and security policy during challenging years, for the opportunity to express an independent position in sensitive discussions, and for the professional dialogue we maintained even during disagreements.” “The multi-front war imposed on us on October 7, 2023, has not ended. Our soldiers remain on guard on multiple fronts, and the mission to bring all our hostages home is not yet complete. The obligation to ensure—through diplomatic or military means—that the terrorist organizations in Gaza are removed from power and disarmed, and that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, has also not yet been fulfilled. The challenges in the diplomatic and international arenas remain demanding, and require Israeli initiative, wisdom, determination, and responsibility.” “The terrible failure of October 7, in which I share responsibility, must be thoroughly investigated to ensure the proper lessons are learned and to help restore the trust that has been damaged. The many military and diplomatic achievements attained during the campaign must be preserved and strengthened. “We must all remain committed and attentive to the needs of those who paid the highest price: the bereaved families and the war’s wounded—both in body and soul. Above all, we must work to heal the wounds within Israeli society and strengthen our unity. The power of Israeli unity revealed itself over the past two years in full force on the battlefield, shattering our enemies’ illusions. Now, restoring unity across all aspects of public life is essential to ensuring Israel’s enduring strength,” he concluded. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
A DHS probe found FEMA workers under the Biden administration refused aid to some disaster victims who showed support for Donald Trump — bypassing homes with pro-Trump or Second Amendment signs from 2021 to 2024. Investigators said FEMA staff collected political data in violation of federal law and created an undisclosed database linking personal information to political beliefs. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called the findings “a horrifying abuse of power” and referred the case to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.
President Donald Trump ’s pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew from consideration Tuesday evening, after his offensive text messages were made public and GOP senators revolted. Paul Ingrassia, who was nominated to lead the Office of Special Counsel, had been scheduled to have his confirmation hearing this week. On Monday, however, Politico reported on a text chat that showed him saying the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” Ingrassia also described himself in the chat as having “a Nazi streak” at times. After the texts came to light, several Republican senators said they would not support his nomination. They included some of the most conservative and stalwart Trump allies in the Senate. “I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time,” Ingrassia posted in an online message. “I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout the process and will continue to serve President Trump and the administration to Make America Great Again!” HSGAC is the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Ingrassia’s post came after Senate Majority Leader John Thune had said he hoped the White House would withdraw Ingrassia’s nomination. Republicans have been able to muscle through the vast majority of Trump’s nominees in roll call votes despite stiff Democratic opposition. But there have been sporadic instances when Republicans have pushed back, generally behind the scenes, showing there are limits to their support. Most notably, Matt Gaetz withdrew as Trump’s first choice for attorney general soon after being tabbed for the job. In May, Trump pulled his nomination of Ed Martin Jr. to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, bowing to bipartisan concerns about the conservative activist’s modest legal experience and support for Jan. 6 rioters. Last month, the White House announced it would be withdrawing the nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Antoni was supposed to succeed a BLS director who was fired following a disappointing jobs report. According to texts viewed by Politico, Ingrassia told those in the chat that “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” Politico spoke to Ingrassia’s lawyer, who said the text messages might have been manipulated or were missing context. The lawyer did not confirm the texts were authentic. The Office of Special Counsel is an investigative and prosecutorial office that works to protect government employees and whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. It’s also responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act, which restricts the partisan political activities of government workers. In May, Trump described Ingrassia in a social media post as a “highly respected attorney, writer and Constitutional Scholar.” (AP)
New Yorkers grabbing a quick bite at a fast food joint may soon spot a new symbol next to certain menu items—a visual alert warning them about excessive sugar content. The Big Apple has become the first city in the nation to require such labels.
The new emblem, shaped like a pyramid with a heaping spoon of sugar, must appear beside any packaged or freshly prepared food or beverage that includes at least 50 grams of added sugars. That number matches the maximum daily sugar intake recommended for someone on a 2,000-calorie diet.
According to the city’s Health Department, the new regulation—which officially took effect this month—applies to roughly 4,000 restaurant chains across New York City’s five boroughs. Officials say it’s part of a broader effort to give consumers clearer information about what they’re eating and drinking.
In addition to the icons, restaurants will have to post notices explaining that regularly consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to long-term health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental decay.
“As the first in the nation to add a warning icon for added sugars, this rule underlines our longstanding work to ensure New Yorkers have information about the food they eat,” said acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse.
The measure originated from a 2023 City Council vote aimed at equipping New Yorkers with more knowledge to make healthier dining choices.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump’s endorsed challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie formally launched his campaign Tuesday, setting up a fierce Republican primary in Kentucky’s 4th District that will test Trump’s grip on the GOP — and pit the president’s “America First” movement against one of Congress’s most contrarian, and increasingly anti-Israel, lawmakers.
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead an office charged with protecting federal whistleblowers appeared to be in jeopardy on Tuesday after Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hoped the White House would withdraw the nomination. The growing opposition to Paul Ingrassia comes after a Politico report of a text chat that showed him saying the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” Ingrassia also described himself in the chat as having “a Nazi streak” at times. “He’s not going to pass,” Thune told reporters. Two Republicans who serve on the committee with jurisdiction over the nomination for the Office of Special Counsel job, Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said they do not support Ingrassia’s confirmation. “I’m a no. It never should have got this far,” Johnson said Tuesday. “They ought to pull the nomination.” Republicans have been able to muscle through the vast majority of Trump’s nominees in roll call votes despite stiff Democratic opposition. But there have been sporadic instances when Republicans have pushed back, generally behind the scenes, showing there are limits to their support. Most notably, Matt Gaetz withdrew as Trump’s first choice for attorney general soon after being tabbed for the job. In May, Trump pulled his nomination of Ed Martin Jr. to be the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, bowing to bipartisan concerns about the conservative activist’s modest legal experience and support for Jan. 6 rioters. And last month, the White House announced it would be withdrawing the nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Antoni was supposed to succeed a BLS director who was fired following a disappointing jobs report. According to texts viewed by Politico, Ingrassia told those in the chat that “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” Politico also spoke to Ingrassia’s lawyer, who said the text messages might have been manipulated or were missing context. The lawyer did not confirm the texts were authentic. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Ingrassia’s texts, if authentic, were “foul and disqualifying” He said Trump should pull the nomination of Ingrassia, who works as the White House liaison for Homeland Security. “He should be fired from his current job within the administration,” Schumer said after reading some of the text messages on the Senate floor. “And he should never hold a position of leadership within the Republican Party or the government ever again.” The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is scheduled to hear from Ingrassia on Thursday. It was unclear if anything on that front has changed with the panel’s chairman, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., saying “we’re going to know more on Thursday.” The Office of Special Counsel is an investigative and prosecutorial office that works to protect government employees and whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. It’s also responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act, which restricts the partisan political activities of government workers. The office, now under the leadership of acting Director Jamieson Greer, confirmed in August that it was investigating former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith on allegations his investigation into Trump constituted political activity. Smith’s lawyers have said the investigation […]
A scathing new report by Israel’s State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman exposes alarming failures in Israel’s emergency food preparedness, warning that the government has no strategic plan to ensure food security during wartime. The audit found that storage facilities are in disrepair, many lack essential supplies, and in some cases, wheat reserves are infested with insects.
Englman’s annual report, covering economic and educational oversight, details major shortcomings in the government’s and emergency agencies’ readiness to maintain an uninterrupted food supply during conflict. He wrote that the October 7 terror attacks had a profound impact on Israel’s economy, particularly in the months that followed. The ongoing war and the strain it placed on the home front, he said, demand that the government ensure essential services continue to function to limit the impact on civilians.
According to the findings, Israel entered the “Operation Iron Swords” war with no national food security strategy. Unlike other nations, Israel has no comprehensive legal or administrative framework for managing the food supply during emergencies. Instead, responsibility is fragmented among multiple ministries — including Agriculture, Economy, and Health — as well as the National Emergency Authority.
The report contrasts Israel’s situation with that of countries such as Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, all of which have passed laws and established centralized agencies to manage food security in crises. In Israel, however, no such coordinating body exists, leaving each ministry to handle its own preparations independently and often without coordination with others.
Because there is no unified authority overseeing emergency readiness or enforcing interagency cooperation, Englman warned that individual ministries’ efforts will likely remain partial, disorganized, and insufficient to meet national needs during wartime. This fragmentation, he said, risks leaving the country without adequate food supplies while also wasting critical resources.
The Economy Ministry, responsible for managing emergency stockpiles and ensuring essential food production, was found lacking in several areas. The audit revealed shortages in contracts for vital food items and gaps in the inventory of emergency warehouses. Many of the designated “critical factories” were deemed only partially prepared for wartime operations.
As of July 2024, Israel faced contract shortfalls of 12.2% and 44% in two key food categories compared to national requirements, while another vital product showed an inventory deficit of about 15.9%.
Perhaps most shocking, inspectors found that some of the wheat stored in emergency silos was kept under poor conditions — contaminated with insects and pigeon droppings. The Agriculture Ministry, the report said, does not even have an accurate assessment of how much of the wheat supply has been compromised. There were also significant shortages in essential animal feed components.
Englman urged the Agriculture Ministry, in coordination with the National Security Council, the National Emergency Authority, and the Ministries of Economy, Health, and Finance — and in consultation with the Home Front Command — to complete and approve a comprehensive national food security plan as soon as possible to ensure Israel’s preparedness for future emergencies.
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An immigration enforcement sweep targeting vendors on Manhattan’s famed Canal Street turned chaotic on Tuesday after droves of angry New Yorkers surrounded federal agents and attempted to block them from driving off, prompting arrests and fierce stand-offs along a bustling downtown corridor. The confrontation began shortly after 4 p.m., as federal agents fanned out across a section of Chinatown that has long served as a not-so-underground market for knock-off designer handbags, watches, perfumes, electronics and other goods. An Associated Press reporter observed dozens of agents as they detained a street vendor selling bedazzled smartphone cases, one of a number of arrests in the area. A contingent of protesters, many of whom appeared to be on their way home from work, then surrounded the masked officers, attempting to block their vehicle as they shouted “ICE out of New York” and called on other pedestrians to join them. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol and other federal offices tried to clear the streets, in some cases shoving protesters to the ground and threatening them with pepper spray before detaining them. As more New Yorkers joined the fray, some of the federal agents retreated on foot, followed by jeering protesters and honking vehicles. Additional federal agents, armed with long guns and tactical gear, also arrived in a military tactical vehicle and made additional arrests. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agents were conducting an enforcement operation against sellers of “counterfeit goods” “During this law enforcement operation, rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement,” she said. At least one person was arrested for assaulting an officer, McLaughlin said. She did not respond to a request about how many vendors were detained. The sweep came days after a conservative influencer shared video on X showing a group of men selling bags on the street, urging the official ICE account to “check this corner out.” While clashes between immigration authorities and protesters have played out in Los Angeles and other cities, such scenes have been rarer on New York City streets, which Mayor Eric Adams has attributed in part to his working relationship with President Donald Trump’s administration. President Donald Trump has paid close attention to the city’s mayor’s race, which is in two weeks, threatening to send federal troops to the city if Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, wins. In a statement, Mayor Eric Adams said the city had no involvement in the action and was still gathering details. “Our administration has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement, and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals,” he said. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, accused the Trump administration of trying to get create a “violent spectacle” on the city’s streets. “This operation had nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with terrorizing immigrant families and communities,” he said. (AP)
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