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Raj Goyle arrested at NY Capitol climate protest
Goyle and more than 20 others were arrested after blocking entrances inside the Capitol.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 26, Mar 2026
- 00:05 EDT
- 45
Raj Goyle being arrested at the State Capitol / Raj Goyle via X
Indian American New York comptroller candidate Raj Goyle was arrested during a protest against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed changes to New York’s climate law on March 25.
State troopers arrested Goyle and several other protesters after they blocked multiple entrances inside the Capitol, calling for a rollback of the proposed changes.
In a video posted on X after his arrest, Goyle said, “Right now we just got arrested here protesting the rolling back of the climate law. Twenty other activists here, you know, Communities for Change, Food and Water Watch, were arrested.”
The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which is being considered for amendment, requires New York state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
On March 20, Hochul announced plans to extend the deadline for issuing implementing regulations until the end of 2030, a seven-year delay from the original 2024 deadline. Hochul, a Democrat, cited the pandemic, supply chain issues, inflation, and President Donald Trump for the decision.
ALSO READ: Jayapal backs Raj Goyle for NY State Comptroller
While being handcuffed and escorted by law enforcement officers, Goyle recorded a video message calling for immediate climate action.
“People over profit all day long. Do not gut the climate law. Energy justice is climate justice,” he said.
“The time for action is now. Do not gut the climate law. I am proud to stand here with my brothers and sisters to stand up for people over profit.”
Goyle previously served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, where he was one of the youngest members ever elected.
He is also a co-founder of Indian American Impact, an organization dedicated to increasing Indian American political representation. Goyle has said the group was created to provide the kind of support he lacked when he first ran for office.
An Indian American entrepreneur, Goyle is currently running for New York state comptroller. His campaign is centered on fixing what he calls New York’s broken financial system. He has said his top priority would be investing state funds within New York rather than across the U.S. and overseas.
Goyle recently joined non-tenure-track faculty at New York University in a strike against the university. Since then, the administration and the more than 900 faculty members on strike have reached common ground, and the strike has been tentatively called off.
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