Dante de Blasio, son of former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, found himself among numerous demonstrators who were apprehended for occupying a Manhattan hotel, accused by activists of housing federal immigration agents, according to law enforcement sources speaking to the Daily News.
The 29-year-old was charged with disorderly conduct after ignoring NYPD orders to leave the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca located on Sixth Ave., near West Broadway, around 6 p.m. on a Tuesday, sources reported.
“I was detained while protesting the presence of ICE agents in New York City,” the ex-mayor’s son expressed to The News. “ICE operates like an unchecked, authoritarian force, abducting individuals, including many American citizens, from the streets with apparent impunity.”
“The violent, authoritarian tactics of ICE stand in stark contrast to American values. Silencing protests and taking lives for speaking out fundamentally contradicts our nation’s founding ideals. ICE should not have a place in New York City.”
Protesters displayed placards reading “Hilton stop housing ICE” and “Hilton don’t let ICE stay” as they rallied in the lobby for over 45 minutes, condemning ICE’s actions in cities like Minneapolis—where agents recently killed two American citizens—and elsewhere.
In total, the police detained 66 individuals during the demonstration, with all but two facing charges of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.
“Many of the cops on duty that night were the children of immigrants or immigrants themselves. I believe that they too understood the stakes of the present crisis,” Dante de Blasio said.
The remaining two protesters were charged with obstruction of government administration for trying to prevent cops from pulling protesters out of the lobby. They were given desk appearance tickets ordering them to court to answer the charges in a few weeks, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
An activist with Sunrise Movement NYC said protest organizers zeroed in on the Tribeca Hilton after receiving multiple tips the hotel was hosting ICE agents.
“We were following the lead of our friends in Minneapolis who have been dealing with Hiltons there housing ICE agents,” said 25-year-old Carly Shaffer. “They’ve been leading a pretty aggressive campaign to get Hilton to stop housing ICE agents. If these agents don’t have a place to sleep, they can’t be in our neighborhoods terrorizing them.”
A law enforcement source, however, told The News on Wednesday that no ICE agents were staying at the hotel Tuesday night.
A City Hall spokesman said Mayor Mamdani praised the NYPD — and the protesters.
“Mayor Mamdani commends the protesters who exercised their right to protest against ICE today,” said spokeswoman Dora Pekec.
“As he has said, ICE is a rogue agency that has repeatedly carried out cruel, inhumane and lawless raids and arrests of American citizens. The mayor is also pleased with the NYPD’s response to the protest and that today’s demonstration concluded without violence.”
