- Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked a key route to the city hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
- The group chained themselves together while others laid on the ground with sheets over their bodies
- Officials said 50 people were arrested and at least 15 cars removed from the bridge
Pro-Palestinian protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, a key route into the city which is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Thursday morning, California Highway Patrol said all lanes of westbound I-80 east of Treasure Island on the Bay Bridge are blocked by protesters.
The group is demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7 when the terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people.
Photos show the demonstrators rolled out signs that say ‘no U.S. military aid to Israel’ and ‘Biden Ceasefire.’
Some protesters chained themselves together to block off the road way and were chanting ‘ceasefire now.’ Others laid on the ground with sheets over their bodies that said, ‘stop the genocide.’
Pro-Palestinian protesters shutdown San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge Thursday
Protesters demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas carry signs that said ‘stop the genocide’
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center posted to Twitter that the protesters were there to call out the president.
‘There’s a genocide happening in #Gaza and @POTUS is hosting cocktail parties in #SanFrancisco. Bay Area has shut down 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 China’s President Xi Jinping.
A California Highway Patrol spokesman said all protesters had been arrested and officers were working to remove the vehicles from the roadway, reported CBS San Francisco.
Some protesters carry a sign that said ‘no U.S. military aid to Israel’ while others lay on the ground
The group blocked a key route into the city which is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
‘It’s gonna take a little while. However, we’re not going to be blocking all the lanes so we’re hoping we can reopen at least one or two lanes in the meantime so that traffic can start flowing,’ said highway patrol spokesman Officer Art Montiel.
Officials said 50 people were arrested and at least 15 cars removed from the bridge. As many as 50 more protesters could be arrested following a review of videos of active participants in the protest, they said.
