A group of demonstrators protesting against US President Donald Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly were arrested near the organization’s New York headquarters on September 23.
Protest Details
About 12 people sat on the ground near the intersection of 42nd Street and Second Avenue, blocking traffic, and holding banners with anti-Trump slogans such as “fascist,” “arrest Donald Trump,” and “Trump still lies.”
Protesters’ Motivations
Many of the protesters appeared to be from the group Rise and Resist, which was formed after Trump’s election in 2016. One protester said she came to demonstrate against Trump’s UN speech, stating that other countries needed to know that not all Americans support him.
Another protester mentioned that he decided to participate after Jimmy Kimmel’s show was suspended, saying he wanted to exercise his right to free speech while he still could.
Trump’s UN Speech
During his nearly hour-long speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump criticized US President Joe Biden and his administration, while praising his own government’s accomplishments. He claimed that his policies had reduced illegal migration to the US “to zero” and that he had ended seven wars.
Trump also criticized the United Nations, saying that it was not helpful and that he deserved a Nobel Prize for his efforts to save millions of lives.
International Reactions
Trump discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that it was more challenging to resolve than he had anticipated. He expressed willingness to impose sanctions on Russia if European countries stopped buying Russian energy.
