Protesters Shut Down 110 Freeway, Cause Major Traffic Gridlock in Los Angeles
A protest on the 110 Freeway brought morning traffic to a standstill for more than an hour Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles. Protesters linked arms at about 9 a.m. on the southbound side of the freeway near Third Street, causing a major disruption to the morning commute. California Highway Patrol officers were at the scene, where the morning drive ground to a halt.
The backups extended to nearby streets and freeways, with traffic on the southbound 110 Freeway jammed for miles, well past the 5 Freeway. CHP officers began taking people into custody just before 10 a.m., and most of the protesters were removed by 10:30 a.m. However, several cars appeared to have stalled due to mechanical problems, adding to traffic headaches. Tow trucks were called in to remove the vehicles.
In total, the CHP reported that 75 people were arrested, but it was not immediately clear whether all were protesters. The 110 Freeway connects downtown LA with Long Beach to the south and San Gabriel Valley communities to the northeast.
The protest was organized by a group calling for a lasting ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. This is not the first time such a protest has caused major disruptions on a California freeway. In November, dozens of protesters shut down lanes on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for roughly four hours, demanding that President Joe Biden call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
This event serves as a reminder of the power of peaceful protest to bring attention to important issues, but also highlights the significant impact it can have on the community and the local infrastructure. The CHP advises commuters to check for updates on freeway conditions before heading out, as the situation continues to develop.