A massive mob of anti-Israel protesters took over three New York City bridges and Manhattan’s Holland Tunnel, leading to more than 300 arrests Monday morning.
The swarm of “Shut it Down for Palestine” demonstrators rallied through City Hall Park before descending upon the tunnel, as well as the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Manhattan Bridges.
Footage obtained by BreakThrough News shows members of the group standing, sitting, and holding banners across the roadways.
HAPPENING NOW: Pro-Palestine supporters are taking simultaneous direct action across New York City.
Supporters are forming human chains in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan bridge, and Holland Tunnel. pic.twitter.com/ucCIRppHUJ
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 8, 2024
“You’re disrupting traffic, idiots!” one driver yelled as he was blocked in by the protesters at an intersection at the Williamsburg Bridge.
Angry NYC driver shoves Palestine protesters blocking the Williamsburg bridge during rush hour traffic this morning out of his way
“You’re disrupting traffic idiots, you can’t do that, it’s against the law” pic.twitter.com/0bQLsAgUHN
— Elad Eliahu (@elaadeliahu) January 8, 2024
“You can’t do that! It’s against the law,” he shouted, as another man recording the incident yelled, “Hit ’em all! Run ’em over!”
The driver then got out of his vehicle, shoved three of the protesters, and warned them to stay away from his car as he screamed, “I have a daughter in Brooklyn! … I have to get home!”
Eventually, the group of demonstrators backed off.
A local ABC affiliate reported that the New Jersey-bound lanes of the Holland Tunnel were blocked off by the protesters, leading to Port Authority police arresting 120 protesters and reopening the tunnel just after 10:30 a.m.
After the arrests began, the swarm chanted, “NYPD, KKK, IDF, they’re all the same!” comparing the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
NOW: Pro-Palestine supporters chant “NYPD KKK, IDF they’re all the same” after lines of protesters arrested and cuffed at Holland Tunnel. pic.twitter.com/VJHhGuDqLN
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 8, 2024
At least 40 demonstrators took over the Brooklyn Bridge around 10:00 a.m., according to the New York Post.
Police descended upon the bridge, with some having to saw through the protesters’ chains.
NOW: Police are sawing off protesters chains and mass arresting on Brooklyn Bridge. pic.twitter.com/BfIktzsK3q
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 8, 2024
As police lined up cuffed demonstrators to be transported via bus, they chanted, “Out of Syria, out of Iraq, out of Palestine, don’t come back.”
NOW: Arrested protesters from Brooklyn Bridge chant “out of Syria, out of Iraq, out of Palestine, don’t come back” as they wait to be transferred. pic.twitter.com/y74AQ4Y29G
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 8, 2024
More footage obtained by BreakThrough News shows the NYPD carrying out mass arrests on the Manhattan Bridge as well.
NOW: Pro-Palestine supporters arrested and removed from the Manhattan Bridge pic.twitter.com/PsTl6ZOVUk
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) January 8, 2024
The Brooklyn Bridge reopened to traffic shortly before 11:00 a.m., while the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges reopened around 11:30 a.m., according to ABC7NY.
In total, more than 330 people were arrested in connection to the demonstrations, and many will likely face misdemeanor charges with desk appearance tickets.
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