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Hindus for Human Rights Co-Founder Sunita Viswanath Arrested in Mass Protest Against Netanyahu at the United Nations

    VoM News Desk | September 26, 2026 | 06:40 AM IST | Press Release | Follow on Google News
    Hindus for Human Rights Co-Founder Sunita Viswanath Arrested in Mass Protest Against Netanyahu at the United Nations
    HfHR joined Jewish Voice for Peace’s nonviolent action calling for an end to U.S. arms and funding for Israel
    New York, NY (September 25th, 2026) — Hindus for Human Rights co-founder Sunita Viswanath was among the New Yorkers arrested Thursday, September 24th during a mass protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations. HfHR was one of the organizations supporting the action, led by our partners Jewish Voice for Peace.

    HfHR members also participated in other protests and a large march against Netanyahu’s visit.  Protesters occupied streets near the UN, chanting and singing as they demanded an end to the killing in Gaza and to U.S. arms and funding for Israel. Their calls included “Fund people, not bombs” and “Stop the killing, stop the bombs.”

    More than 100 people were arrested in the Jewish Voice for Peace action. Among those who participated were Susan Sarandon, Chelsea Manning, Pose actor Indya Moore, Linda Sarsour, Medea Benjamin, Aber Kawas, Brad Lander and New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé.  

    For HfHR, taking part was an act of satyagraha, the tradition of nonviolent resistance that India gave to the world and was popularized during Gandhi’s peace walk.

    Amid the extensive security surrounding the General Assembly, participants knowingly risked arrest to insist that Netanyahu’s arrival in New York could not pass without a public challenge, and that he must be held accountable in the eyes of the public for the crimes he committed on Gazans.

    The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. HfHR had initially prepared to protest Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appeared on a provisional list of UN speakers.

    Following HfHR’s protests against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visit to New York, the organization learned that India’s address would instead be delivered by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

    We welcome Modi’s absence from the UN podium as a win for those who challenged the public promotion of Hindu nationalism in New York last month during Mohan Bhagwat’s controversial Madison Square Garden appearance. 

    Netanyahu’s visit demanded a response of its own. HfHR has repeatedly stood alongside Jewish, Palestinian and other partners calling for Palestinian freedom. On Thursday, that solidarity meant joining New Yorkers who were willing to put their bodies on the line. HfHR calls for an end to the killing and bombing in Palestine, Lebanon, the Golan Heights, and Iran, and an end to U.S. arms, funding, and political support for Israel’s military campaign.
     
    Rev. Peter Cook, a longtime HfHR ally and co-founder of Faith Beyond Religious Nationalism, also joined the protest. Cook was previously denied entry to India while traveling with a Christian delegation seeking to meet Christian communities there. His work now brings progressive people of different faiths together to confront religious nationalism within their own traditions and across communities. 
     
    That work continues Thursday, October 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Riverside Church, where Cook, Viswanath and other faith leaders will take part in A New Approach to Interfaith Dialogue: Truth-Telling, Confession, Repentance & Shared Principles. The first conversation will examine Hinduism and its distortion by Hindu nationalism, as part of a broader effort to build solidarity against religious nationalism in all its forms. A reception will follow.
    VoM News Desk
    VoM News Desk

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