New Jersey Amazon Union Founder Detained After Protest Outside Met Gala Event in New York
Christian Smalls, a 37-year-old labor activist from Lodi, New Jersey, was taken into police custody on Monday evening after a protest outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the Met Gala event in New York City. Authorities stated that the arrest took place after he allegedly crossed a restricted security barrier set up around the high-profile gathering.
According to law enforcement officials, Smalls entered a secured zone shortly before 7 p.m. as guests and celebrities were arriving for the annual fundraising event. Police officers on site intervened and placed him under arrest following the incident.
Reports indicate that Smalls was holding a protest sign during the demonstration. The message on the sign criticized Amazon’s ongoing labor negotiations and accused the company of refusing to reach an agreement with its union at JFK Terminal 8. The sign also contained a political statement related to Amazon’s business activities overseas, which added further attention to the protest.
The Met Gala event had already drawn public debate this year due to its association with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who served as major sponsors and honorary chairs of the event. Their involvement had previously sparked calls for protests from labor and activist groups.
Police charged Smalls with multiple offenses, including trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, and failure to obey traffic control devices. He was expected to be processed and appear in court for arraignment the following day.
The Amazon Labor Union-IBT Local 1 later issued a statement clarifying that Smalls was not acting on behalf of the organization. The union stated that he has not been formally involved with its operations since August 2024. While the group called for his release and criticized the handling of the arrest, it also emphasized that isolated protest actions do not represent its broader worker-led organizing efforts.
Smalls has been a well-known figure in labor activism since 2020, when he was dismissed from an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island after organizing workplace safety protests during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later became the president of the Amazon Labor Union, which gained national attention for its organizing efforts.
At the time of reporting, Smalls had not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the arrest.
Authorities have not indicated whether further charges may be considered as the case proceeds through the legal system.
Sources:
NYPD (New York Police Department)
CBS News New York
ABC News
People.com
WWD
