At least 10 people were detained by the NYPD after a group of anti-covid-19 vaccine protesters forced their way into the AMC Empire 25 movie theater in downtown New York on Monday night, police said.
Police said the group invaded movie theaters on West 42nd Street around 6:30 p.m.; Now, the detainees await charges against them.
A video posted on social media from outside the AMC shows NYPD officers escorting several men out of the theater into a van, while a group of protesters can be heard chanting loudly.
#BREAKING : Multiple Anti-Mandate activists arrested by NYPD's Strategic Response Group, including a credentialed independent journalist LeeroyPress. The arrests happened at a Sit-In demonstration inside the AMC movie theater near Times Square in NYC.#Mandates #VaccineMandate pic.twitter.com/EQ0hpATJAW
— LUKE2FREEDOM (@L2FTV) February 8, 2022
“My body, my choice. You cannot force the vaccine ”, repeated the crowd.
Another video, posted from inside one of the movie theaters, shows protesters engaging in an apparent “sit-in” on large theater seats as they speak with responding officers.
“I hope that you will be inspired by this and support us because this will go to the Supreme Court,” a protester told a police officer.
According to the AMC website , the Empire 25 Theater requires all guests ages 5 and up to show proof of vaccinations . Masks are “recommended” for all guests and those who have received a vaccination but are not “fully vaccinated” should wear a mask while walking through the building.
The masks can be removed while guests snack and drink during screenings at movie theaters, according to AMC.