Demonstrators opposed to guns and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) disrupted traffic and allegedly damaged a memorial in New York City this week.
A group protesting ICE blocked entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday, triggering heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic, according to reports.
Separately, a man is facing charges after allegedly spray-painting over the names of victims displayed at the 9/11 memorial.
The incidents occurred days apart in New York City as local leaders have not publicly addressed either matter.
An anti-ICE agitator is carried out by police at the Brooklyn Bridge. (REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
The anti-ICE crowd’s demonstration was met with frustrated drivers – many of them commuting to work – who were stuck in the gridlock; drivers were seen on video pleading with agitators to gain access to the bridge.
One driver was heard saying, “I just want to get to work!”
A frustrated driver stuck in traffic said, “I just want to go to work” as radicals blocked the Brooklyn Bridge. (FNTV)
The radicals were heard on megaphone shouting “NYPD, K-K-K, I-C-E, THEY’RE ALL THE SAME!”
One person shouted “Free Oscar Bergal!” in response to a recent ICE arrest of the illegal Dominican national that resulted in a shooting in Marble Hill, Manhattan, earlier this month.
Agitators block the Brooklyn Bridge, to protest against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting, in New York City, US, Oct. 28, 2026. (REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)
Police eventually arrived to arrest and remove the people disrupting traffic.
The bridge caused delays for about an hour when the group showed up at 12:30 in the afternoon, and were eventually arrested and removed by 1:30, according to ABC7.
An anti-ICE agitator blocks traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. (REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)
The NYPD confirmed to News Outlet that 14 people were arrested and there were no reported injuries.
News Outlet has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
Port Authority Police confirmed to News Outlet that Johnathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested after he allegedly vandalized the 9/11 Memorial earlier this week.
On Monday, a message reading “just stop killing kids” was sprayed across several engraved names on the memorial.
Flowers and American flags rest beside inscribed names at a reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on Sept. 11, 2026, in New York City, as the nation commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Jeenah Moon – Pool/Getty Images)
The suspect was seen in his own self-recorded video spray painting the memorial; his organization “Just Stop Killing Kids” shared the video.
In another post the organization wrote:
“On October 26, 2026, Jon Tijerina was arrested for spraying red paint on Freedom Tower in NYC. He is demanding that Trump and Mamdani enforce common-sense, highly popular demands with respect to guns such as Universal Background Checks and a National Gun Registry.”
A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum told News Outlet that security personnel and law enforcement responded quickly and restored the affected area.
“The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “This brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state.”
