In a heated clash outside Gracie Mansion on Sunday, protesters on both sides of the migrant housing dispute in the Big Apple clashed, leading to several arrests and a tense standoff. The rally, dubbed the "We are the People, Freedom Rally," drew more than 100 demonstrators who voiced their frustrations and criticisms over City Hall's handling of the migrant crisis. The protest began at 2 p.m. and lasted for about two and a half hours, with police officers trying to maintain control of the raucous crowd.

Among the protesters was Curtis Sliwa, the 69-year-old founder of the Guardian Angels and former mayoral candidate. Sliwa, who has been arrested twice before in the past two weeks while protesting migrant sites across the city, was charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. He was released on a desk appearance ticket following his arrest. Sliwa has been an outspoken critic of the city's treatment of migrants and expressed his concerns during the rally. He argued that migrants were being given better treatment than homeless Americans or struggling veterans, which he believed incentivized more migrants to come to the city.

Sliwa's arrest was not the only one during the clash. Two elderly individuals, Luis Menchaca (80) and Collette Rottenstreich (81), were also slapped with the same charges and received desk appearance tickets. Jennifer Hansen (31) faced charges of resisting arrest, assault, and disorderly conduct. Another protester, Andrew Hallinan (32), faced charges of assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and assault. Both Hansen and Hallinan were referred to as "professional protesters" by sources.

The clash between protesters escalated as both sides hurled insults and traded punches. Trump supporters among the protesters shouted slogans such as "No migrants on Long Island!" and "Americans over migrants!" Counter-protesters fired back, yelling, "F-k white supremacist NYPD!" The tensions reached a boiling point, leading to physical altercations among the demonstrators.

During the rally, Sliwa took the opportunity to criticize Mayor Eric Adams, mocking his comparison of himself to Mahatma Gandhi. Sliwa compared himself to the pacifist leader of India's independence movement, stating that he would demonstrate true peaceful protest by getting arrested. Sliwa's arrest on Sunday marked his 80th instance of civil disobedience.

The clash outside Gracie Mansion occurred amidst the ongoing migrant crisis in the city, with an estimated 100,000 migrants from the US-Mexico border seeking asylum in the five boroughs. In response, Mayor Adams has established at least 200 emergency shelters to house them, including a large tent city on Randall's Island with a capacity of 3,000 beds. However, these measures have faced criticism from locals who fear the potential consequences of such a large influx of migrants.

The clash outside Gracie Mansion highlights the deep divide and tensions surrounding the migrant housing issue in New York City. The severity of the situation necessitates a careful and strategic approach from city officials to address the concerns and grievances of both sides while ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.