A state assemblyman was among eight people who were arrested during a protest outside Sen. Chuck Schumer's offices in Manhattan Thursday.
State Rep. Dov Hikind and seven other demonstrators were cuffed after they allegedly refused to disperse from the office at Third Avenue and East 49th Street in Manhattan Thursday afternoon, according to the NYPD.
The legislator and his fellow demonstrators were issued summonses for disorderly conduct. Hikind was released from police custody Thursday afternoon.
Hikind, a Democrat who represents parts of Brooklyn including neighborhoods, was calling on Schumer to vote against a deal that would see the U.S. lift economic sanctions against Iran in return for measures to prevent the country from building nuclear weapons.
“We’re pleading with Senator Schumer to step up and lead this fight. Schumer’s voice is critical, with other senators looking towards him to take a stance. I see millions of people in Iran chanting ‘Death to America, Death to Israel’ and we’re negotiating with this regime? It’s insane,” his office said.
Hikind's arrest comes a day after about 10,000 protesters packed into Times Square to demand Congress to vote down the deal.
Schumer was criticized for not attending Wednesday's rally. He said in a statement that he has read the agreement and is waiting to speak with experts from both sides before deciding how to vote on the proposal.
