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Over 100 protesters were arrested near the United Nations in New York on Thursday ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the General Assembly. The sit-in, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, denounced Netanyahu for perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, building more illegal settlements in the West Bank, occupying parts of Lebanon and bombing Iran alongside the United States. Democracy Now! spoke with participants, including some congressional candidates and other prominent figures.

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman, today broadcasting from London, where the film about Democracy Now!, Steal This Story, Please!, is playing throughout the weekend in theaters. You can check our website at democracynow.org. I’ll be speaking along with the Oscar-nominated director after each film screening.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly Thursday. In a few minutes, we’ll play excerpts of his address and get reaction from former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy, who’s at the U.N. right now. But first to the streets outside the United Nations, where hundreds of protesters called on world leaders to stop arming Israel and to end the genocide in Gaza. Democracy Now!’s Amba Guerguerian was there.

Mass Protest Planned Against Netanyahu’s UN Speech in NYC Thursday

PROTESTERS: Stop arming Israel! Let Gaza live! AMBA GUERGUERIAN: Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations on Thursday, hundreds of demonstrators led by Jewish Voice for Peace staged a sit-in protest in New York City, stopping traffic for more than an hour just three blocks away from the U.N.’s headquarters. Over 100 protesters were arrested. Prominent figures, such as actors Susan Sarandon, Elliot Page, Hannah Einbinder and Cynthia Nixon, attended the protest. Democracy Now! spoke with some of the congressional candidates and elected officials who were there. PROTESTERS: End the killing! Fight like hell for the living! AMBA GUERGUERIAN: This is Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic nominee for Congress from New York City. DARIALIZA AVILA CHEVALIER: I’m here with so many New Yorkers to demand that Netanyahu be held accountable. He’s currently wanted by the ICC. And the irony is that so many New Yorkers here today........

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