Protesters block traffic on Bay Bridge, call for ceasefire in Gaza
Pro-Palestinian protesters caused major traffic disruptions on the Bay Bridge Thursday morning as they called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
The protesters, representing various organizations, shut down several lanes of the bridge during the morning rush hour, leading to significant delays and widespread disruption for commuters heading into San Francisco. Authorities reported that 81 individuals were arrested in connection with the protest.
Local TV news coverage of the demonstration showed protesters marching on the bridge, demanding an end to the conflict in the Israel-Hamas war, and condemning U.S. military assistance to Israel. Some protesters engaged in acts of civil disobedience, including chaining themselves together and staging a ‘die-in’ with sheets that read “Stop the genocide.”
The California Highway Patrol declared the protest an “unlawful demonstration” and responded by arresting protesters and placing them in buses. San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto later confirmed that the majority of the protesters arrested were cited and released, while one individual remains in custody.
The protest coincided with the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco and followed a series of other demonstrations held across the Bay Area in response to the event.
The protest was organized by several groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC Bay Area). AROC Bay Area shared updates about the protest on social media, stating that the demonstrators took to the Bay Bridge “in defense of Palestinian liberation.”
The California Department of Transportation warned that the protest would impact traffic throughout the day. By midday, all westbound lanes on the bridge had reopened, but officials indicated that the demonstration had caused additional complications, with dozens of vehicles abandoned on the bridge and the keys likely tossed into the Pacific Ocean.
Highway Patrol Chief Ezery Beauchamp condemned the protest, emphasizing that while individuals have the right to peaceful assembly, blocking traffic on the Bay Bridge is illegal and unacceptable.
Beauchamp also acknowledged the strategic coordination of the protesters, noting that they were well-organized and executed their plan quickly. He stressed that law enforcement had anticipated the possibility of the demonstration and responded promptly.
As the region grapples with ongoing protests and intensified calls for action amid global conflicts, the disruption caused by the Bay Bridge protest serves as a reminder of the complex intersections between local activism and international affairs.