OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — Protesters opposed to an annual economic summit of world leaders and U.S. aid to Israel shut down the San Francisco Bay Bridge for hours during the morning rush period Thursday.
At around 7:40 a.m. Thursday, protesters blocked all cars heading west on Interstate 80, hampering access to the main bridge into San Francisco. In a coordinated action, between 50 to 100 protesters stopped their cars on the bridge east of Treasure Island Road and chained themselves and their vehicles together, California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate Division public information office said.
The protesters took issue with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit wrapping up Thursday in San Francisco, and of Israel’s bombing of Palestinians in Gaza — all part of a series of similar protests underway in the Bay Area since Sunday. The United States is hosting the annual summit of world leaders for the first time since 2011, as leaders from the 21-member group gather to discuss trade and economic deals within the Pacific region.
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area said, “Dozens are shutting the bridge down during commute hours, DEMANDING a cease-fire in Gaza while Biden is here in San Francisco. No Gaza genocide, no more bombing, stop killing children.”
The organization shared a video around 7:50 a.m. of protesters on the bridge carrying signs reading “Stop the genocide” and “No military aid to Israel.” The organization Critical Resistance shared photos of protesters lying on the road under sheets.
According to CHP, the activists tossed their car keys into the Bay to make their vehicles part of the blockade to block all westbound lanes. Within minutes, the division’s special response team with more than 100 officers arrived and arrested about 50 people.
“Although we did have some officers on scene, there was just a significant amount of protesters so we had to call more officers on site,” a spokesperson for CHP said. The division office could not confirm how many officers were deployed on the bridge or where the arrestees were taken.
As of 10:50 a.m., about 15 vehicles that were left as blockades had been towed. Officers worked to clear all drivers and vehicles from the bridge who were stuck on the bridge due to the protest. Commuters who were backed up before the toll plaza were guided back to Oakland. Caltrans urged people to take public transit, and transbay bus lines have been diverted to the West Oakland BART train station, according to AC Transit.
At about noon, the CHP reported the roadway had finally reopened to traffic.
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