PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — State and Philadelphia police arrested nearly 70 protesters who blocked the Vine Street Expressway in Center City on Saturday evening, shutting down traffic for about an hour. Police say the protesters, numbering about 350 and calling for an end to the war in Gaza between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.
“We’re calling for a ceasefire in Palestine — permanent ceasefire — no more tax dollars to the genocide in Palestine,” said Julie, a Chinatown resident, who declined to give her last name.
Besides calling for a permanent end to the war, the protesters, who police said were with a group called "Party for Socialism and Liberation," also said they want the U.S. government to stop providing aid to Israel's military.
Julie said, rather, the focus should be on problems at home — “especially in Philadelphia. We have too many unhoused people. We have too many people starving. We have too many people living on the streets.”
Most of the group marched through Center City without any issues, while dozens stayed in the eastbound lanes of I-676, near 8th Street, according to police, which prompted the authorities to respond.
Police made it to the scene just before 4 p.m., according to PennDOT. Julie was there to record video of the demonstration as protesters were arrested.
Police closed the expressway in both directions, and troopers with Pennsylvania State Police handcuffed dozens of individuals and removed them from the area.
Police activity was cleared from the area by just after 8 p.m., according to PennDOT.
This was the latest in a series of protests in the last six months calling for an end to a conflict that has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians.
The administration of President Joe Biden has supported Israel’s retaliation following the brutal surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people and took hundreds more hostage. However, the president has said the mass killing of Palestinian civilians is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel.”
Hamas is believed to be holding roughly 100 of those hostages and the remains of dozens of victims.