Activists protesting the struggle in Gaza shut down Freeway 101 on the Golden Gate Bridge Monday morning, snarling the commute into San Francisco and leading to a number of arrests.
At round 7:30 a.m. Monday, dozens of protesters stopped their autos and blocked all southbound lanes of the span, demanding the U.S. cease arming and funding Israel within the struggle in Gaza, organizers say.
“Plenty of the cash that’s going from people who’re working actually arduous, we do not need that cash going to Israel anymore,” stated protest spokesperson, Riley Hugo.
The California Freeway Patrol issued a Sig-alert at about 8:10 a.m. for the southbound course of the bridge. Later, the CHP closed off the northbound lanes as effectively.
Activists protesting the struggle in Gaza shut down Freeway 101 on the Golden Gate Bridge Monday morning, snarling the commute into San Francisco and leading to a number of arrests. Ginger Conejero Saab stories.
Amongst these affected by the visitors was Kevin Clark who was dropped off by his Lyft driver after being caught in visitors.
He had hoped to stroll throughout the Golden Gate Bridge to get to a gathering in Marin.
“Appears prefer it’s 45 minutes to the opposite aspect. I’ve by no means walked to the opposite aspect,” stated the Seattle resident.
However he wasn’t capable of. Bike and pedestrian visitors was additionally shut down by police due to the protest.
At the very least one resident of San Francisco stated he thinks repeated efforts to close down bridges and freeways is not productive.
“I simply assume it is anti any progress that is hoped to be made. It simply units issues again. It makes individuals extra offended at a time when individuals want calm and cause,” stated Gary.
Professional-Palestinian protesters shut down visitors in a number of areas throughout the Bay Space Monday morning.
At about 10:30 a.m., CHP Marin stated on social media it had began making arrests. A complete of 26 individuals had been arrested.
A number of automobiles that had been additionally a part of the demonstration had been towed. The CHP stated 5 in complete will probably be impounded. And hearth vans that had been a part of the response needed to fastidiously again off the bridge so as to go away the scene.
CHP management stated this was an illustration not like many who they’ve ever seen earlier than. Chief Don Goodbrand with the California Freeway Patrol Golden Gate Division stated they did usher in additional officers and staged them to reply as a result of that they had heard a protest was deliberate.
They’re charging individuals with conspiracy due to the coordinated protest.
Gaza ceasefire protesters have been making their voices heard all throughout the Bay Space on Tax Day. It is a part of a nationwide effort to protest U.S. tax {dollars} going towards Israel and the struggle in Gaza. NBC Bay Space’s Raj Mathai spoke to Sergio Quintana concerning the demonstrations right here within the Bay Space.
“You possibly can protest any which approach you need. However it’s illegal to dam a roadway and to forestall individuals from attending to work, emergency personnel from getting to assist individuals. You possibly can’t do it,” stated Goodbrand.
The individuals arrested on the Golden Gate Bridge will probably be charged by the San Francisco District Legal professional’s Workplace.
Together with the conspiracy cost, they’re additionally dealing with different fees starting from automobile code violations to false imprisonment for drivers who had been trapped on the bridge in the course of the demonstration.
Will the individuals concerned within the Gaza struggle protests throughout the Bay Space be punished? It’ll be as much as the district attorneys in San Francisco and Alameda counties. NBC Bay Space’s Raj Mathai spoke to Paula Canny, longtime protection lawyer, for some perception.
Different Gaza struggle protests occurred concurrently within the East Bay, the place all lanes of northbound Interstate 880 at Fifth Avenue in Oakland had been blocked for hours and one other protest emerged on I-880 at I-980 farther north in Oakland.
Protesters blocked the southbound lanes of Interstate 880 at Seventh Avenue in Oakland, the second protest Monday morning alongside I-880 within the metropolis. Velena Jones stories.