By james art Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, and several streets around the site have been cordoned off for the event, officials said.
The rally officially begins at 5:00 p.m., with doors set to open at noon. The following streets are closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the NYPD said:
- West 33rd Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues
- West 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 31st Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues
- West 30th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues
Seventh Avenue between West 29th and West 34th streets is also closed to pedestrians, the department said.
At a security briefing Saturday, Mayor Eric Adams said there would be “special procedures” for passengers leaving subway stations around Madison Square Garden.
“Those riding the subway will exit on the Eighth Avenue side of Madison Square Garden instead of the Seventh Avenue side,” he said. “There will be uniformed and New York City Transit staff at the station to help navigate people and where the proper detours are.”
The mayor advised motorists to avoid the area.
“It’s going to be an extremely congested flow of vehicles, and that’s why we really urge New Yorkers to use public transit,” he said. “And if you’re traveling through midtown Manhattan tomorrow, please take mass transit no matter where you’re going.”
Adams said New Yorkers can expect to see a “large police presence” around the site.
“There’s going to be a lot of defenses that you’re going to see and some that you’re not going to see. Our combined efforts through our intelligence as well as our undercover officers will ensure that the area is safe, just as we have done for several major events that have occurred over the past few months and years,” he said.
“And while we will always respect and protect the right to peaceful protest, there will be zero tolerance for crime, blocking traffic, graffiti or disorderly conduct,” he added. “The NYPD is well versed in dealing with protests and has the ability to deploy additional resources at a moment’s notice if needed.”