In a striking display of activism, protesters advocating for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip disrupted the flow of traffic on the southbound lanes of the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. The organized protest took shape shortly after 9 a.m., with demonstrators exiting their vehicles on the 110 Freeway, forcing the closure of all southbound lanes.
Demonstrators locked arms, forming a human barrier across the southbound lanes, while a few daring motorcycles managed to navigate through the blockade. Among the protesters, a makeshift 7-foot tall menorah was erected, and one demonstrator used a bullhorn to address the assembled activists.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was quick to respond to the scene, as confrontations between frustrated drivers and protesters erupted sporadically. Initially, the protesters disregarded the CHP’s orders to disperse. However, shortly before 10 a.m., officers began individually approaching the demonstrators, restraining them with zip-ties, and taking them into custody without incident.
Subsequently, the arrested activists were transported to a nearby LAPD jail facility in one of the two dozen Highway Patrol cruisers and cargo vans on-site. The CHP later confirmed the arrest of 75 individuals involved in the protest.
Protest Caused Southbound Traffic Jam For 3 Hours
While the demonstration brought traffic to a halt on one side of the freeway, northbound lanes remained unaffected. After several hours of tension and arrests, the freeway was eventually reopened to motorists.
The southbound traffic jam extended past Dodger Stadium and the 5 Freeway interchange as the sit-in continued. It was not until approximately 11:30 a.m. that the Highway Patrol reopened all southbound freeway lanes to drivers.
While stranded drivers expressed their frustration with the traffic disruption, others voiced sympathy for the protesters’ cause. Cameron Juarez, a motorist affected by the gridlock, commented, “It’s messing up traffic horribly, sir. They shouldn’t be doing it here, I know that.”
Conversely, Beatrice Favela expressed support, saying, “I’m with them. I’m with them. I’m with Gaza. It’s always a hassle. It’s L.A., traffic is always going to happen. But this is important right now. The world needs to know and see that this is important.”
Group Demands Policy Change in US-Israel Military Aid
IfNotNow LA, an activist group composed of American Jews and their allies, issued a statement on Wednesday morning, declaring, “As American Jews, we refuse to be silent. We demand an end to the financial support of Israel’s occupation and documented war crimes, including the indiscriminate mass murder of over 18,000 Palestinians and the forced displacement of 1.9 million civilians.”
Asher Kaplan, a member of IfNotNow LA, expressed frustration with the U.S. government’s response, stating that they had raised awareness but had not witnessed substantial changes in policy.
IfNotNow LA primarily seeks an end to U.S. military aid and support of Israel, along with advocating for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. It is worth noting that the group’s rhetoric has been divisive and has caused offense to some members of the mainstream Jewish community, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
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