Pro-Palestine protesters block San Francisco bridge as 50 arrested | US News

At least 50 people were arrested as Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Protesters lined up and blocked all lanes of westbound Interstate 80 on the bridge during rush hour on Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Some protesters tied themselves to each other with chains while others staged a ‘die-in’ lying on the ground and covering themselves with white sheets bearing the words, ‘Stop the genocide’.

Cops apprehended protesters utilizing zip ties and put them in buses.

‘We are 100% in support of people’s rights to exercise their First Amendment, but this is the wrong way to do it,’ highway patrol Chief Ezery Beauchamp told reporters. ‘This is 100% wrong, not acceptable, and is illegal to do.’ 

One of the groups behind the protest, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC Bay Area), wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘There’s a genocide happening in #Gaza and @POTUS is hosting cocktail parties in #SanFrancisco.

‘Bay Area has shut down the Bay Bridge to demand #CeasefireNOW.’