PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets during the Monday morning rush, halting traffic and creating an “economic blockade” to raise awareness about the ongoing devastation in Gaza.
Starting shortly after 8 a.m., protests formed outside City Hall, 30th Street Station and on I-95. Protesters sat in the street at the intersection of Market Street and Schuylkill Avenue, briefly halting traffic until police stepped in. Several demonstrators were arrested.
Another group apparently used their cars to slow traffic on I-95, both southbound and northbound, onto the ramps to the Vine Street Expressway.
Protesters also demonstrated outside City Hall.
“This action and a series of other actions across Philadelphia are for A15, which is a multi-city worldwide coordinated economic blockade in solidarity with Palestine,” explained protester Hannah Zellman.
She and other protesters are calling on the U.S. to end its economic and political support of Israel as it continues its war against Hamas.
“Cities everywhere in the United States have multiple strategies today to raise attention and awareness and also let people know that, maybe your commute is delayed today, maybe you have to navigate some people taking the streets. But the reality is, we’re here to leverage our bodies, to leverage our energy for the people of Gaza,” added Samantha Rise, who marched at City Hall.
“The least we can do and the strongest and softest thing we can do is to show up today to disrupt and interrupt business as usual and say not another nickel, not another dime, no more money.”
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, about 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out. Following Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 — in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and another 250 were taken hostage — Israeli leaders have called for the total destruction of Hamas.