Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters created chaos on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City as they rushed onto the bridge, moving through vehicular traffic around 3:30 p.m. The protesters were followed by NYPD officers on bicycles, who began making arrests once some of the protesters started lighting traffic flares in the midst of the traffic. This incident was part of a series of protests taking place nationwide in solidarity with Palestine.
In addition to the Brooklyn Bridge protest, a group of about a dozen demonstrators halted westbound traffic on the Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, calling for a free Palestine and highlighting what they claim is ongoing genocide by Israel against the people of Gaza. Meanwhile, similar protests were staged in Chicago, San Francisco, and Oakland, causing disruptions in O’Hare International Airport, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Interstate 280. These protests were triggered by Iran’s retaliatory strike on Israel, which marked the first direct attack by Iran on Israel and was in response to a previous Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus.
The protests in various cities, including New York City and surrounding areas, stemmed from tensions escalating after Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel in October 2023. This attack led to a significant death toll and criticism of Israel’s response, resulting in a prolonged conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in Gaza. The protests reflect a deepening divide between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups in the United States, mirroring the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.