More than 300 people were arrested after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked three bridges in New York City (NYC) and the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.
Protesters gathered together around 9:30 a.m. Monday to block the New Jersey-bound lanes of traffic going into the Holland Tunnel, according to ABC7NY.
“Due to ongoing protest activity expect traffic delay near the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges and the Holland Tunnel,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Oliya Scootercaster, a Ukrainian-American journalist with FreedomNewsTV, posted a video that showed the protesters blocking the Holland Tunnel with signs that read, “Lift the siege on Gaza. Ceasefire now,” and “End the occupation. Free all Palestinian prisoners. USA stop arming Israel” while calling for an end to Israel’s blockade on Palestine.
Hamas, a terrorist organization, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Gaza has been under an Israeli-imposed blockade, supported by Egypt, which restricts goods such as computer parts and electronics from being imported.
#BREAKING Holland Tunnel, Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg bridge are shut down in NYC by Pro-Palestine protesters demanding "Ceasefire Now" in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/E3avSuhFLs
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) January 8, 2024
Officers from the Port Authority Police Department arrived on the scene and arrested roughly 120 people prior to reopening the tunnel around 10:30 a.m., according to the outlet.
Protesters could be heard chanting, “There is only one solution. Intifada revolution,” and “Free, free, free, Palestine.”
#NOW Over 100 Pro-Palestine protesters arrested after blocking Holland Tunnel in NYC to demand Ceasefire in Gaza pic.twitter.com/U8Z3Fkjrtb
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) January 8, 2024
As protesters were being arrested, one driver responded by informing the protesters that they were in New York and not Palestine.
“This is New York, not Palestine, not Gaza,” the man can be heard saying with his window rolled down. “New York!”
#NOW "This is New York, not Palestine, not Gaza!" a man shouts as Pro-Palestine protesters are getting arrested after blocking Holland Tunnel "They ruin my day? F them!" pic.twitter.com/POF6Am5rN1
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) January 8, 2024
The Brooklyn Bridge was reportedly reopened to traffic before 11 a.m., while the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges were reopened to traffic a little before 11:30 a.m.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) issued a statement regarding the protests, explaining that people should “peacefully protest without doing major disruption to the city.”
“Some people are not just driving to and from, across our bridges to go to their place of employment, some of them are dealing with some real emergency type issues,” Adams explained. “I have been extremely clear, it gives us all pain to see innocent lives being lost right now, we need to do whatever 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.”
In the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and more than 200 people taken as hostages, there have been protests across the nation and worldwide calling for a ceasefire. Student organizations across university campuses have issued letters condemning Israel and expressing support for Hamas.
Democratic donors, politicians, and White House interns have expressed frustration with the Biden Administration over its continued support of Israel.
