September 23, 2026 – New York, NY – On Wednesday, 19 activists from ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power), Extinction Rebellion, Climate Defiance, POP (Protect Our Planet) and other groups were arrested for blocking the street next to One World Trade Center, which was hosting the Newsweek Artificial Intelligence (AI) Health Summit.

The groups were protesting keynote speaker and Mount Sinai CEO Brendan Carr over his hospital’s contract with AI company Palantir. Palantir specializes in warfare, policing, surveillance, and immigration enforcement and since 2022, has implemented AI at Mount Sinai, including algorithm-based decision-making about care and “Hospital At Home” models that push people out of hospital beds faster.

After blocking the One World Trade Center entrance to the AI conference, the 19 activists moved to blocking nearby West St. and were arrested. They are demanding that Mount Sinai break their contract with Palantir, which New York City’s public healthcare system, NYC Health + Hospitals, did earlier this year after pressure from advocates.

“Climate, AIDS, and healthcare groups have come together today to demand that Mount Sinai cut ties with Palantir and remove AI from their hospitals,”

said ACT UP member Ryan Casey.

“New Yorkers deserve better than AI and algorithms making life and death decisions for them.”

The activists believe Palantir is complicit in multiple human rights violations both domestically and internationally. In the United States, the company aids in mass deportations and detentions by ICE and helps train the NYPD to profile and track New Yorkers. In Gaza and the West Bank, Palantir has helped in the surveilling and killing of tens of thousands of civilians. And in Iran, the company has guided U.S. military bombings of civilians and infrastructure.

“Climate activists are here today because we are not just trying to ‘save the planet.’ We want to save its people,”

said Extinction Rebellion member Jenna Cardinale.

“Palantir’s AI-weapons have been utilized in the Gaza genocide and ecocide abroad. At home, Palantir has been caught using healthcare data in its contract with ICE, weaponizing New Yorkers’ private information against them. Mt. Sinai’s contract with Palantir is profoundly anti-human.”

The activists promise to continue protests until Mount Sinai cuts ties with Palantir.

About ACT UP

Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP currently meets every Monday night at 7PM ET via Zoom. Notes: you will be asked to contribute your first & last name and email address to access online meetings, and KN-95 masks are required for ACT UP NY in person meetings/actions/gatherings. All individuals are welcome!