
(Scypre.com) – On Monday, a major demonstration against the ongoing conflict in Gaza led to the shutdown of San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge, marking a significant act of protest in the United States. The demonstration, which lasted approximately five hours, was part of a broader wave of protests across the country, reflecting increasing domestic opposition to the conflict.
The protestors on the Golden Gate Bridge, employing a dramatic visual tactic, displayed a large banner proclaiming “Stop the world for Gaza.” They strategically used vehicles and physically chained themselves together, effectively blocking the bridge’s travel lanes and creating a significant disruption. This act led to the arrest of around 20 individuals by the California Highway Patrol, which confirmed the blockade started around 7:30 a.m., with the bridge reopening shortly after 12:15 p.m.
This isn’t the first instance of such protests targeting this famous bridge; a similar blockade occurred in February, where demonstrators demanded a ceasefire and called for an end to U.S. arms supplies to Israel.
Elsewhere, similar demonstrations underscored the national breadth of the protest actions. In Oakland, protestors utilized 55-gallon drums filled with cement to anchor themselves on Interstate 880, prompting intervention from the highway patrol to clear the obstruction. Meanwhile, in Chicago, about 40 demonstrators were detained at O’Hare International Airport after they disrupted traffic by linking themselves with pipes across their arms, displaying badges that demanded, “Stop sending bombs.”
The date of the Chicago protest was deliberately chosen to coincide with the April 15 tax filing deadline, emphasizing their message against U.S. financial involvement in the conflict. The group behind the protest, Chicago Dissenters, declared on social media that they intended to disrupt operations at O’Hare, one of the nation’s largest airports, as long as Palestinians continued to suffer due to American-supported actions by Israel.
In New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge was also a site of protest, with traffic disruptions leading to several arrests. Seattle saw similar disruptions, with an expressway leading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport being blocked.
These protests across various cities in the U.S. have highlighted the domestic fallout from the conflict in Gaza, which has seen substantial casualties. Health officials in Gaza report over 30,000 deaths, including a significant number of civilians, while the conflict has also resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel from attacks and has involved hostage situations.
The breadth and intensity of these demonstrations reflect a deep-seated frustration and a calling for significant policy shifts regarding the U.S. role in international conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. As these protests disrupt daily life and draw media attention, they serve as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching implications of foreign conflicts on domestic grounds.