Dozens arrested in New York as protesters demand US blocks sale of bombs to Israel

Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration on Monday calling on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of US bombs to Israel.Led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd of hundreds initially attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of the two Democratic lawmakers they accused of abetting Israel’s intensifying attacks in Lebanon and the US-Israel war on Iran.After demonstrators were blocked by security from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting “fund people, not bombs” as they were arrested and loaded on to three buses.Among the 90 people taken into custody were whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef and New York City Council Member Alexa Aviles, according to a JVP spokesperson.The demonstration focused on a set of resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders that could block the sale of more than US$600 million in bombs to Israel.Similar measures previously introduced by Sanders, an independent from Vermont, have failed.