Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to block the roads leading to JFK Airport in New York City and LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The New York City incident began at 11:00 AM Wednesday when several cars blocked the expressway leading to the major airport and passengers exited their vehicles.
Videos from the scene showed dozens of people linking their hands and blocking traffic on the highway and a service road, forcing travelers to walk to their terminals in the rain with their luggage.
#BREAKING: Multiple roads into JFK Airport have been blocked by by Pro-Palestine protesters causing A travel nightmare ⁰#Queens l #NewYorkCurrently, numerous pro-Palestine protesters are blocking the entrance to John F. Kennedy international Airport in Queens, New York,… pic.twitter.com/aXxWnhpDfF
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 27, 2023
Protesters continued blocking traffic and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans for nearly an hour as police arrived. Some of them carried banners saying “Right to return home” and “Divest from genocide,” while common chants like "From the River to the Sea" were heard from among the crowd of demonstrators, the New York Post reported.
26 arrests were made and traffic was restored, Port Authority police said.
The incident in Los Angeles also saw a few dozen protesters block the airport entrance and attempt to block the roadway with cement blocks and other objects.
Arial view of Pro-Hamas supporters blocking traffic at LAX airport. (Insider Corner)For more breaking news updates, follow us at @TheNewsTrending #israel #palestine #gaza pic.twitter.com/znT5i7cn6S
— Hot news (@TheNewsTrending) December 27, 2023
Videos show police approaching the protesters, leading them to flee. LAPD said an estimated 35 demonstrators were arrested, according to Fox 11.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters in support of Palestinians have disrupted public order worldwide as a means of raising awareness for their cause.
Hundreds of protesters turned out in Manhattan on Christmas Day for a rally where they disrupted tourists and holiday shoppers. Demonstrators also descended on the homes of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as they celebrated Christmas at home with their families.
Last month, anti-Israel protesters disrupted the Thanksgiving Day Parade by gluing their hands to the middle of Sixth Avenue and covering themselves in fake blood.