Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour arrested at Women's Day protest

Sarsour was arrested along with several other women over 'disorderly conduct' as they protested outside Trump Tower on Wednesday.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

09 March, 2017

Linda Sarsour and other activists were detained for 'blocking traffic' [Twitter]

Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour was arrested along with other women's rights campaigners as they rallied outside the Trump Tower in New York City on Wednesday, as part of the "Day Without Women" march.

Sarsour and Women's March organisers Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez and Bob Bland were detained for "blocking traffic", according to the police, who said 13 protesters were arrested.

A picture posted to the Women's March Twitter page shows the women in the back of a police van following their arrest.

"We are not sure what precinct we are being taken to at the moment. But we are together, reSisters," the tweet said.

The activists were all released later that evening.

"I got arrested with some of the strongest women that represent the best that New York City has to offer," Sarsour said following her release.

"I feel empowered, I feel proud of what I did today and I've done this many times before... I hope it sends a message to people that you've got to risk it, you’ve got to be bold in this moment."

Twitter Post

Activist Mallory said the women sang freedom songs to pass the time during their detention.

Wednesday's strike, she said, shows people that President Donald Trump is "not normal".

"We will consistently resist and ensure that this entire country is aware that if women are not happy no one will be happy," Mallory said.

Advocates for the Women's March had called for a general strike to make International Women's Day.

Throngs of demonstrators, mostly women and many wearing red, rallied in New York and Washington to protest against Trump's policies toward women.

In New York, some 2,000 people gathered at the edge of Central Park two blocks from Trump Tower.

Women wore red hats, jackets and bandanas as a symbol of solidarity with other women around the world, while others wore pink "pussy hats" that came to symbolise the giant women's march on Washington the day after Trump's 20 January inauguration.