Palestine activists block Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate and roads to Chicago O’Hare airport in coordinated attempt to bring America to its knees
Palestinian activists have blocked the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate and the roads to Chicago O’Hare Airport in a coordinated effort to bring America to its knees.
On Monday afternoon, more anti-Israel protesters took to the Brooklyn Bridge and were seen walking through traffic, chanting, beating drums and lighting flares.
Several protesters were arrested by NYPD officers as they attempted to block traffic on the bridge.
Pro-Palestinian supporters have used Monday’s tax day as a way to make a statement in a nationwide ‘A15’ protest.
The economic blockade is taking place in solidarity with Palestine and has called for an arms embargo and an end to US taxpayer funding for Israel.
Other protests broke out Monday morning at an intersection in Philadelphia and on Highway 880 in Oakland, California.
Anti-Israel protesters took to the Brooklyn Bridge Monday afternoon and walked through traffic, chanting and drumming.
Torches were also lit by protesters before being thrown into the east river on the Brooklyn Bridge
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Some protesters held up signs, while others marched and waved colored smoke in the air. Cars stuck on the bridge honked at them as the protesters walked in front of vehicles.
Protesters were also seen lighting flares before throwing them into the eastern river. Cycling police managed to arrest some participants on the pedestrian path.
Nerdeen Kiwanis, an organizer of Within our Lifetime, shared ABC7: ‘We don’t want our tax money to finance genocide. There is a strike across the country today.”
Other videos showed New York protesters flooding subways, streets and Borough Hall while waving Palestinian flags.
Video of the dramatic scene in the Bay Area showed a large group of police standing in front of the stuck vehicles as protesters held up a large sign that read: “Stop the world for Gaza.”
Lines of cars backing up could be seen as drivers got out and leaned against their vehicles during the travel nightmare that blocked the bridge for about five hours.
Some people were arrested by police on the bridge, but it is unclear whether they were involved in the protest. Others chained themselves to vehicles.
Several protesters were arrested by NYPD officers as they attempted to block traffic on the bridge
Anti-Israel agitators have blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge and are seen holding up a large sign that reads: ‘Stop the world for Gaza’
Traffic lines up on the Bay Area bridge as vehicles back up through the Robin Williams Tunnel to Sausalito on 101 southbound
The multiple protests come just after Iran attacked Israel early Sunday with an airstrike with 350 missiles.
The attack has since been described as a ‘declaration of war’ as Israeli President Isaac Herzog insisted Israel did not want war but suggested they would retaliate after Iran’s daring airstrike.
On Monday, around 8:23 a.m., protesters sat in the middle of the Kennedy Expressway, connected with PVC pipes and blocking the highway leading to O’Hare Airport.
Frustrated travelers got out of their vehicles and drove twenty minutes to catch their flights on time.
Dramatic footage of the blockade showed dozens of people chanting, “Palestine will be free!” Free, free Palestine!’ with loud drum rolls in the background.
All lanes on I-90 were blocked between Bessie Coleman Drive and the airport, but inbound traffic later resumed, according to O’hare International Airport.
“Please allow extra time if you travel to the airport this morning,” the airport said in a message on X around 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
The protesters stopped lines of traffic as some drivers sat on top of their cars. Police vehicles were present on the scene.
An earlier protest broke out on Highway 880 in Oakland, California, when people blocked the highway
On Monday, around 8:23 a.m., protesters sat in the middle of the Kennedy Expressway, connected with PVC pipes and blocking the highway leading to O’Hare Airport.
Many of the protesters wore keffiyeh scarves as they chanted and waved signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Stop Genocide.”
As they chanted, angry drivers began honking their horns, while others got out of their vehicles and jumped over the guardrail to reach their flights.
The protest, organized by Chicago Dissenters, said they decided to block the airport because it is “one of the largest in the country” that should not be allowed to operate “while Palestinians suffer from American-funded bombing by Israel.” ‘
They decided to target the airport in an attempt to “disrupt Boeing’s operations” because the aircraft manufacturer is “sending fighter jets and bombs to support the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.”
“ON THIS TAX DAY THERE WILL BE NO BUSINESS AS USUAL WHILE GAZANS DIE,” the group said in an Instagram post.
An angry female traveler gave the middle finger to protesters as she walked to the airport and shouted: ‘F*** you!’
Another passenger was seen pushing a protester as he threw his bags over the guardrail.
As people got out of cars, protesters led them to the side of the road and ordered them out that way.
Anti-Israel protesters closed Chicago’s O’Hare Airport as they blocked the highway and left passengers frustrated
An angry female traveler gave the middle finger to protesters as she walked to the airport and shouted: ‘F*** you!’
Lines of traffic have come to a standstill in front of the group as police vehicles are seen at the scene
“We have protesters putting their bodies on the line, they will not move until they are physically removed,” an organizer said in a video.
The group also posted a photo of a map showing traffic jams on the road as they blocked traffic, saying, “It’s day 191 of the genocide in Gaza and we’re shutting everything down.”
People took to social media and commented on the protest: “It’s time to criminalize obstructing highways. 30 days in jail is more than appropriate,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Others noted that police officers did “nothing.”
Someone commented: ‘Why do the police stand there every time and allow these disruptions? Each. Single. Time.’
Around 8:15 a.m., demonstrators were arrested in Philadelphia after taking over the intersection of Market Street and Schuylkill Avenue in Center City.