WATCH: Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic on Golden Gate Bridge, airport highways in major US cities

Pro-Palestinian protesters across the United States, on Monday (Apr 15) blocked roadways and disrupted traffic in major cities including the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, a highway Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, and even attempted to close down the Ambassador Bridge to Canada.

WATCH: Pro-Palestinian protesters block major bridges, highways

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was shut down for hours, on Monday morning during rush hour, after pro-Palestinian activists protested the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

The traffic was halted in both directions of the six-lane suspension bridge and came to a standstill after protesters chained themselves to parked vehicles. According to the California Highway Patrol, more than 30 people were arrested.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos, videos and information shared on social media.

The California Highway Patrol Chief Don Goodbrand called the protests an “orchestrated event,” saying that they “blocked three separate locations on freeways”.

Ambassador Bridge

Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to block the Ambassador Bridge which is an international suspension bridge that connects the US and Canada from the American city of Detroit, Michigan, to Canada’s Windsor, Ontario.

However, the police officers in Detroit moved quickly to stop the convoy of Palestinian activists headed for the bridge in what is being seen as an attempt to shut it down.

“We had units from the Detroit Police Department following this convoy,” said the Detroit Police Commander Ryan Connor, as quoted by WXYZ Channel 7.

He added, “They actively went through red lights in the city of Detroit. They blocked off intersections. They caused numerous safety violations driving down the street.”

O’Hare International Airport

Images and videos shared on social media showed many people getting vehicles and walking to the O’Hare International Airport – one of the busiest and largest airports in the US – after protesters linked arms and blocked lanes of Interstate 190 which leads to the airport around 7:00 am (local time).

The demonstration is a global “economic blockade to free Palestine,” on April 15, Tax Day, said Rifqa Falaneh, one of the organisers, according to the Associated Press. About 40 people were taken into custody, said the Chicago police.

Seattle’s International Airport

In Seattle, at least 46 protesters who appeared to block the expressway leading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for three hours were arrested by the police on Monday afternoon.

Oregon

At least 52 people were arrested for disorderly conduct after dozens of law enforcement officers responded to a pro-Palestinian protest which blocked lanes of Interstate 5. The local police also towed six vehicles after the protest and the southbound lanes reopened around 12:15 pm (local time).

New York

In New York dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Wall Street, carrying flags and holding signs, while others gathered near the Brooklyn Bridge. At least 68 people were arrested in Philadelphia, a spokesperson for the police department told CNN.

Protests in US

There have been sporadic but major pro-Palestinian protests across the US since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza sparked by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel where at least 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli officials.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 33,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

(With inputs from agencies)