325 arrested after Pro-Palestinian protesters block major bridges, Holland Tunnel
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Hundreds of arrests were made after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked traffic on the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges as well as the Holland Tunnel on Monday morning.
The NYPD's chief of patrol said in total 325 people were arrested after the protests. In lieu of summons, many will face misdemeanor charges with a desk appearance ticket.
Around 9:30 a.m. Monday, the protesters blocked New Jersey-bound lanes of the Holland Tunnel.
Port Authority police responded and arrested 120 protesters before the tunnel reopened to traffic just after 10:30 a.m.
The Brooklyn Bridge reopened to traffic shortly before 11 a.m. while the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges reopened just before 11:30 a.m.
At the Williamsburg Bridge, some protesters had to be cut free from the bridge before they were arrested.
The protesters were calling on Israel to end its war on Hamas. Tens of thousands of people in Gaza have died since the war began and Israel is now beginning a more targeted approach to destroying Hamas.
Mayor Eric Adams spoke out after the protests and said the right to protest does not give people the right to block bridges and tunnels.
"The goal is to peacefully protest without doing major disruption to the city, some people are not just driving to and from, across our bridges to go to their place of employment, some of them are dealing with some real emergency type issues," Adams said. "I have been extremely clear, it gives us all pain to see innocent lives being lost right now, we need to do whatever is possible to end anything that is going to take the lives of innocent people, but Hamas must be destroyed, they are a terrorist organization."
Adams called for every hostage to be released and to find a peaceful resolution across the globe.
"Not just what is going on in the Middle East, but what is going on in Ukraine, and parts of the continent of Africa, there is no place for war and innocent people losing their lives," Adams said.
ALSO READ: Yonkers high school basketball coach, player dismissed after antisemitic incident at game
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
