- Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas blocked a key route to the city hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
- The group chained themselves together, while others lay on the floor with sheets over their bodies
- Officials said 50 people were arrested and at least 15 cars were removed from the bridge
At least 50 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested for blocking the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge while calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Protesters blocked all lanes of vital westbound I-80 at the Bay Bridge, California Highway Patrol said Thursday morning.
A far right lane has since reopened for westbound traffic this afternoon and a second lane is expected to open soon, the newspaper reported KRON.
Highway police officials said 50 people were arrested and at least 15 cars were removed from the bridge.
Officials said at least another 50 protesters could be arrested after reviewing videos of active participants, officials said.
The group is demanding a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas that began on October 7 when the terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,400 Israelis and taking about 240 hostages in the worst attack in the country’s history country.
Officials said 50 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested while blocking the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge
A protester is seen crying as he is arrested after blocking the Bay Bridge and demanding that the US stop sending military aid to Israel
Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge on Thursday
Protesters demanding a ceasefire in Israel-Hamas carry signs reading ‘stop the genocide’
Photos show protesters unfurling signs reading “no US military aid to Israel” and “Biden ceasefire.”
Some protesters chained themselves to block the roadway and chanted “ceasefire now.” Others lay on the floor with sheets over their bodies that read: ‘stop the genocide.’
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center posted on Twitter that the protesters were there to call on the president.
“A genocide is happening in #Gaza and @POTUS is hosting cocktail parties in #SanFrancisco. Bay Area closed the Bay Bridge to demand #CeasefireNOW. No more $ for genocide,” the group said.
President Joe Biden is in the Bay Area this week for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a high-profile summit of 21 countries, and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol said all protesters had been arrested and officers were working to clear the vehicles from the roadway, reported CBS San Francisco.
Some protesters carried a sign reading “no US military aid to Israel,” while others lay on the ground
The group blocked a key route to the city hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
‘It will take some time. However, we are not going to block all lanes, so we hope that in the meantime we can reopen at least one or two lanes so that traffic can flow again,” said traffic police spokesman Art Montiel.
Pro-Palestinian protesters boycotted the APEC summit. On Wednesday, protesters clashed with riot police as they tried to prevent people from attending the CEO summit, but were unable to do so when attendees entered through an alley.
Israel retaliated for the October 7 attack with an aerial bombardment and a ground offensive that killed more than 10,000 Gazans, and pro-Palestinian demonstrators called for an immediate ceasefire.
The Israeli army claimed to have found military equipment and “terror infrastructure” during their search for Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa Hospital.