Commuters in downtown Los Angeles found themselves at a standstill early Wednesday morning when 75 protesters demanding a cease-fire in Gaza shut down the southbound 110 Freeway. According to NBC Los Angeles, the demonstration kicked off around 9 a.m., causing significant traffic delays that rippled through adjacent streets and freeways, with congestion stretching past the 5 Freeway.
In a move that disrupted thousands, protesters linked arms and sat on the freeway near Third Street. California Highway Patrol officers arrived on the scene and began arresting individuals just before 10 a.m. amid the traffic chaos, which was worsened by several stalled vehicles adding to the gridlock. As NBC Los Angeles reported, it wasn’t immediately clear if all those arrested were part of the protest.
The group responsible, IfNotNow Los Angeles, demanded an end to U.S. support for what they describe as Israel’s war on Gaza. They released a statement covered by ABC7, saying, "As American Jews, we refuse to be silent. We demand an end to the financial support of Israel's occupation and documented war crimes, including the indiscriminate mass murder of over 18,000 Palestinians and the forced displacement of 1.9 million civilians."
The protestors’ presence also included a 7-foot-tall makeshift menorah. Tensions flared as some drivers, frustrated by the standstill, got involved in clashes with the protesters. This vivid imagery was captured by aerial footage from SkyCAL, which showed protesters seated in defiance, their arms interlocked in solidarity. CHP confirmed the arrest of 75 people involved, and traffic resumed as usual around 11:30 a.m. after all lanes were reopened. While frustration was the dominant mood for many delayed travelers, there were voices of support among the gridlock. "It’s always a hassle, it’s L.A. Traffic is always going to happen, but this is important right now. The world needs to know and see that this is important," a woman, identified as Beatrice, told ABC7.
CBS News Los Angeles added that additional officers were called to the scene after the protest was ruled an unlawful assembly, and several protesters were peacefully detained for failing to disperse. In response to the disruption, authorities organized buses to help remove the protesters from the freeway. For the latest updates on traffic conditions, drivers were referred to local traffic reports.
