150 arrested as protesters disrupt traffic in Chicago airport

The pro-Palestinian demonstrators were protesting against the US supporting Israel in the war in Gaza

In Summary
  • People going to the airports in Chicago and Seattle were left walking to the airports terminals as vehicles could not pass through.  
  • The demonstrators stopped traffic from moving on a road to Terminal 1 at Chicago's O'Hare airport during the morning rush.
Pro-Palestine protesters caused delays and blocked roads and terminals 1-3 at O'Hare International Airport and the Golden Bridge in Chicago on April 15, 2024.
Pro-Palestine protesters caused delays and blocked roads and terminals 1-3 at O'Hare International Airport and the Golden Bridge in Chicago on April 15, 2024.
Image: SCREENGRAB/X

More than 150 people have been taken into custody after protesters blocked the highway disrupting operations at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and other sites.

According to CNN, the pro-Palestinian protesters were protesting against the US supporting Israel in the war in Gaza.

The protesters also blocked one of the famous bridges in the United States and two major airports, according to reports by CNN.

As a result, people going to the airports in Chicago and Seattle had to walk to the airports' terminals as vehicles could not pass through.  

The demonstrators stopped traffic from moving on a road to Terminal 1 at Chicago's O'Hare airport during the morning rush.

The Chicago police said 40 people were taken into custody.

In Seattle, protesters blocked the road leading to the Seattle-Tacoma airport with several vehicles.

On Monday morning, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge turned into a scene of protests. 

Authorities said some protesters chained themselves to vehicles on the bridge, resulting to its closure for several hours.

During the demonstrations, the protester held signs reading "Stop the world for Gaza".

In the Bay Area, some protesters are said to have attached  themselves to drums filled with concrete and rebar, blocking vehicle flow and slowing efforts to reopen the roads. 

"It was an orchestrated event that they put forth," California Highway Patrol Chief Don Goodbrand said.

"They blocked three separate locations on freeways. They prevented law enforcement, paramedics, ambulances from getting to their points of destination."

The CHP said more than 30 people were arrested while in Oregon, 52 were arrested after protesters blocked lanes of Interstate 5 near Eugene.

Oregon State Police said six vehicles were towed from the scene.

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