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NYPD expects daily UN General Assembly protests as NYC street closures begin
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 17, 2026
Modified Sep 17, 2026
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KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 17, 2026
Modified Sep 17, 2026
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New Yorkers should brace for protests every day of next week's United Nations General Assembly, along with street closures and other travel disruptions beginning Sunday, city officials said Thursday.
"We're expecting multiple protests every day," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. "As always, the NYPD will facilitate First Amendment activity. At the same time, there will be no tolerance for violence or destruction of property."
Officials said thousands of police officers will be deployed around the U.N. complex as representatives from nearly 200 countries arrive in New York. The high-level General Debate runs from Sept. 22 through Sept. 28, bringing hundreds of motorcades and rolling street closures across Manhattan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on New Yorkers in July to protest Netanyahu, whom he called a "war criminal," after conceding he had no authority to arrest him.
Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, criticized Mamdani's call for protests Thursday, accusing the mayor of encouraging disruption during the General Assembly.
"The mayor is supposed to make sure we have a quiet week with less traffic and issues — but he's doing the exact opposite," Danon told reporters. "He's inciting, calling for people to demonstrate against our prime minister but none of that will stop us."
The mayor did not answer directly when asked on Thursday whether anyone at the NYPD had urged him to soften his criticism of Netanyahu.
"The conversations that I've had with the PD have been purely on standard preparations for this event, as well as standard preparations for keeping New Yorkers safe," Mamdani said.
Officials would not say which day would bring the largest crowds and declined to detail Netanyahu's movements. Asked why Netanyahu is expected to land at Newark Liberty International Airport rather than JFK Airport, officials said each dignitary's travel involves complex logistical planning.
Tisch said the NYPD will establish security zones closed to vehicles and pedestrians, as it has in previous years, and that the department is not planning anything out of the ordinary this year.
Here are the street closures planned near the U.N. beginning Sunday:
- First Avenue will be closed from 41st to 48th streets.
- 44th through 47th streets will be closed between First and Second avenues each day.
- 42nd Street will be closed between First and Second avenues while the General Assembly is in session each day, until roughly 9 p.m.
- The 42nd Street exit off the FDR Drive will be blocked during those times.
- Portions of the FDR Drive will close at times.
- Rolling closures will take place across Manhattan as delegations travel between venues.
Passenger vehicles and bicycles can still use the First Avenue Tunnel to head north, Tisch said. The city has declared gridlock alert days from Sept. 21 through Sept. 25. Officials also warned of ferry disruptions and said a temporary flight restriction will be in effect within 2 nautical miles of the U.N. from Sept. 20 through Sept. 26, including for unauthorized drones.
"It is going to be serious gridlock over the course of those days," Mamdani said, urging people to use mass transit.
The MTA is also urging commuters to take the subway and warned that buses and Access-A-Ride service could face delays because of street closures. Long Island Rail Road riders can use Grand Central Madison and Metro-North riders can use Grand Central Terminal to reach Midtown.
Thousands of uniformed officers will be posted around the complex, backed by heavy weapons teams, aviation and harbor units, K-9 teams and the bomb squad, Tisch said, calling it "one of the most complex security operations that we carry out."
Officials said there were no known specific or credible threats against the General Assembly or New York City as of Thursday.
Asked whether the disruption that comes with hosting the General Assembly is worth it, Mamdani said the city is proud to host the gathering.
"What this event represents is also a recognition of the fact that we are all part of something larger than ourselves," Mamdani said.
This story has been updated with new information.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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