The protest, spearheaded by activist group IfNotNow, blocked traffic and caused significant delays for Southern California commuters on the southbound 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles near Venice Boulevard towards the Sepulveda Pass, according to local media.
Nine out of approximately 50 Pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested on Tuesday after they shut down a major Los Angeles freeway while calling on all elected Democrat lawmakers to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.
The protest, spearheaded by activist group IfNotNow, blocked traffic and caused significant delays for Southern California commuters on the southbound 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles near Venice Boulevard towards the Sepulveda Pass, according to local media.
California Highway Patrol said in a news release that the protest began around 9 a.m. and lasted approximately 50 minutes before lanes were reopened.
“Accessing state freeways or roads to protest is unlawful and extremely dangerous because it puts protestors, motorists, and first responders at great risk of injury or death,” the CHP said in part in the statement, adding authorities “will not tolerate the actions of a small group that unlawfully prevent commuters from making it to their jobs, medical appointments, personal engagements, and many other daily activities.”
The protest is the latest demonstration to draw attention to continued worldwide tensions and community involvement related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, using freeway closures to highlight their situation as a strategic approach.
IfNotNow, a group of American Jews against Israel’s “apartheid system,” wrote on Instagram that the protestors “risked their bodies” to demonstrate their stance against the use of U.S. tax dollars for military aid while domestic issues persist.
“Joe Biden’s administration cannot provide $14 billion in unconditional aid to Israel, cosigning the unbridled murders of Palestinian civilians,” the group wrote. “A call for a lasting ceasefire is only meaningful if there will be no more funds given to the Israeli military.”
The demonstrators were seen holding up placards urging for a trade restriction and imploring other Jewish people to oppose the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel organization that invests significant amounts of money in U.S. congressional elections.
Members of the organization immediately faced harsh criticisms from users on social media, deeming the group antisemitic and criminal.
“You are NOT a Jewish group,” one account said in response to IfNotNow’s post on X. “You are a group of radical leftist antisemites who seek to delegitimize and destroy the Jewish people here, Israel and everyone else. Blocking freeways at rush hour is not only a crime but an act you did to get people to hate Jews!”
“I hope you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” another account said.”These are just people trying to go to work.”
There were no reports of any injuries or arrests following the protest. However, traffic continued to move slowly on the southbound side of the freeway even after the lanes were reopened.
