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You’ve probably seen the heavy police presence or heard the chants echoing off the shops on 14th Street. Union Square is busy today. Honestly, it’s always busy, but today feels different. There’s a specific energy in the air that you only get when New Yorkers decide they’ve had enough of the status quo. If you're wondering about the protest in union square nyc today, you aren't alone; the subway was packed with people carrying cardboard signs and wearing heavy coats to brave the January chill.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026. It’s cold. 33 degrees, actually. But the cold isn't stopping the crowd.
The Strike That Won’t Quit
The biggest driver behind the noise in the square right now is the ongoing New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) strike. We are currently in the second week of what has become the largest nurse strike in the history of this city. Roughly 15,000 nurses from Mount Sinai and Montefiore are still out on the picket lines because contract talks collapsed—again—on Friday night.
Basically, the nurses and the hospital executives are at a total standstill. The nurses are asking for better staffing ratios so they aren't burnt out and, quite frankly, so patients don't die because one person is watching ten beds. The hospitals? They’re calling the demands "unreasonable." NewYork-Presbyterian claims their nurses already make an average of $163,000 a year, but the union says that’s not the point. They want safety.
MLK Weekend and the Shift in Tone
Because it’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the protest in union square nyc today has taken on a much more somber, reflective tone. Earlier this morning, a group of striking nurses met up with Reverend Al Sharpton. They’re framing this not just as a labor dispute, but as a fight for racial and economic justice.
It’s pretty powerful to see.
You’ve got nurses in their blue scrubs (layered over hoodies, because, again, it's freezing) standing next to community activists. They are talking about how underfunding hospitals in the Bronx specifically hurts people of color. It isn't just about a paycheck; it’s about who gets care and who doesn't.
The "No Kings" Movement Returns
While the nurses are the loudest group, they aren't the only ones in the park. There is a secondary, overlapping demonstration from the "No Kings" movement. This group has been protesting the Trump administration’s recent policies, specifically the executive orders regarding birthright citizenship and the surge in ICE detentions.
Just a few days ago, a New York City Council employee—an asylum seeker from Venezuela named Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez—was detained by ICE during a routine check-in. That incident sparked a firestorm. Local leaders like Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have been incredibly vocal about it, calling it "egregious government overreach."
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In the square today, you can see the crossover.
- Signs saying "Healthcare is a Human Right" sit right next to "Abolish ICE."
- Union members from the UAW (who just successfully unionized the Met Museum staff) are there showing solidarity.
- The DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) has a heavy presence with their signature red flags.
What’s Actually Happening on the Ground?
If you're trying to navigate the area, keep your head on a swivel. The NYPD has "frozen" certain sections of the park near the George Washington statue. Traffic on 4th Avenue is a nightmare. Honestly, just avoid driving anywhere near 14th Street if you can help it.
The crowd is peaceful but loud. There’s a lot of drumming. There’s a lot of chanting about "Safe Staffing Saves Lives."
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What most people get wrong about these protests is thinking they are just one-off events. They aren't. This is a climax of weeks of tension. The nurses have been picketing in the snow all week. They even went to the homes of the hospital CEOs to protest. This gathering in Union Square is a way to consolidate all those different picket lines into one massive show of force.
A Quick Reality Check on the Numbers
- 15,000: The approximate number of nurses currently on strike in NYC.
- $26.3 Million: The compensation for NewYork-Presbyterian CEO Steve Corwin that the union keeps pointing to as "unreasonable."
- 3,919: The number of deaths in Iran protests recently verified by agencies, which has also drawn a small group of international solidarity protesters to the square today.
It's a lot to take in. Union Square has always been the city's "free speech" corner, but today it feels like a pressure cooker.
Why This Matters for Your Commute (and Your Health)
If you need medical care today, the hospitals are still open. Mount Sinai and Montefiore are using "traveler nurses" and temporary staff. However, wait times in the ER are reportedly through the roof. If you have a non-emergency, you might want to wait or find an urgent care that isn't attached to the major striking systems.
As for the protest in union square nyc today, the permits for the rallies usually run until about 6:00 PM. After that, the crowds tend to thin out as people head to the subways to thaw out their toes. But don't expect the issues to go away. NYSNA is planning another massive rally for tomorrow, Monday, January 19, at 3:30 PM over at Mount Sinai Morningside with Reverend Sharpton again.
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Moving Forward: What You Can Do
If you’re stuck in the middle of it or just watching from home, here is how to handle the situation:
- Check Transit: Use the MTA app. The 4/5/6 and L trains are running, but exits near the park are often congested or temporarily blocked by police for "crowd control."
- Support the Frontline: If you want to help the nurses, many community groups are bringing coffee and hand warmers to the picket lines. Honestly, a warm drink goes a long way when you’ve been standing on concrete for eight hours in 30-degree weather.
- Stay Informed on Negotiations: Keep an eye on the NYSNA official updates. The next few hours are critical as mediators try to get both sides back to the table before the work week begins in earnest tomorrow.
The situation is fluid. One minute it's a rally, the next it's a march toward 5th Avenue. Just stay aware and remember that behind the posters and the shouting, there are thousands of people just trying to make the city a bit more livable.
Keep an eye on local traffic advisories for the rest of the evening, especially near West 20th and 21st Streets where crane operations are also causing closures—it’s just a messy day for Manhattan transit all around.