People participate in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy and the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in New York City, U.S. February 11, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith
(New York, New York) – Video circulating on X appears to show a large crowd of protesters in New York City chanting violent slogans, including “Kristi Noem will hang” and “Save a life, kill ICE,” triggering swift backlash and condemnation online. Kristi Noem currently serves as Secretary of Homeland Security, overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The footage, which spread rapidly across social media, prompted outrage from users who accused protest organizers of crossing from political protest into explicit threats. “THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS MUST BE IMPRISONED!” one widely shared post read, while others questioned how such rhetoric was allowed to take place in the middle of America’s largest city.
Some critics on X directly blamed city leadership and progressive politics for what they described as escalating extremism. Multiple posts referenced Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with comments such as “Mamdani did this,” and “Mamdani is just a byproduct of the left… the socialists are taking over NYC.” There has been no confirmation that Mamdani or his administration endorsed or organized the protest.
As of now, no arrests tied specifically to the chants have been announced, and city officials have not publicly commented on the footage. The incident has nonetheless reignited debate over the line between protected speech and violent incitement, as well as growing concerns from conservatives that extremist rhetoric is becoming increasingly normalized at political demonstrations in major U.S. cities.
