Shillong, January 9: A demonstration in New York City during rush hours led to the arrest of at least 320 pro-Palestine protesters after they blocked traffic on several bridges for over two hours.
On Monday, more than 1,000 demonstrators, many adorned in the traditional Palestinian scarf known as keffiyeh, disrupted outgoing traffic from downtown Manhattan at the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and the Holland Tunnel, as reported by CNN.
The protesters displayed Palestinian flags, chanted “Free Palestine,” and carried banners and signs with messages such as “ceasefire now” and “USA stop arming Israel.” The Palestinian Youth Movement, which organized the demonstration, outlined five key demands in a statement: a permanent ceasefire, an end to the US government’s arming of the Israeli regime, an end to the siege of Gaza, an end to Zionist occupation, and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners.
IANS reported that the protest caused extensive traffic jams in lower Manhattan, including areas like SoHo, Tribeca, and Hudson Square, as well as the exit into New Jersey. The blockades on the bridges resulted in gridlock throughout the Financial District and Lower East Side, according to the organizers. However, all lanes on the bridges and tunnels were reopened by 11:15 a.m., according to the New York City Police Department.
Jamil Madbak, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, explained the goal of the protest: “Our aim today was to clog the arteries of New York City to draw attention to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people and the people of Gaza. The protests are important to maintain pressure, to show that the US government and media are accountable to the people who are demanding an end to this genocide.”
Despite the demonstrators’ intentions, New York Mayor Eric Adams denounced the protest, stating, “The right to protest does not give one the right to block bridges and tunnels, as we saw this morning.” He emphasized the need for peaceful protests without causing major disruptions to the city. Mayor Adams also expressed the urgency of addressing the situation, stating, “We need to do everything that is possible to end anything that is going to take the lives of innocent people. But Hamas must be destroyed. They are a terrorist organization. Their barbaric act on October 7 should not be ignored.”