US military whistleblower Chelsea Manning was among scores of demonstrators arrested in New York City while protesting against the war in Iran.
The organisers of the protest, Jewish Voice for Peace, claimed as many as 300 people had taken part in the demonstration outside the offices of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and his colleague Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
“From personal experience, I understand that the cruelties of war are not inevitable,” Manning said in a statement shared with The Telegraph.
“Our actions matter in shaping the course of history. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have repeatedly supported weapons sales to Israel that are being used to commit atrocities across Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran.”
Manning added: “We call on Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to follow the will of New Yorkers and vote to block weapons and bulldozer sales to Israel.”
Video captured at the scene and shared on social media showed the whistleblower wearing a three-piece grey suit with a pink tie, being arrested by police.
It was not clear what Manning said, if anything, but the crowd could be heard chanting: “Free, free Palestine.”
Organisers said the protest was held to put pressure on the senators ahead of a vote on Capitol Hill spearheaded by independent senator Bernie Sanders.
It would block the sale of $600 million in munitions to Israel.
Manning, 38, formerly Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 by a court-martial of leaking classified material to Wikileaks, the...
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