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Protesters Calling For Ceasefire In Israel-Hamas War Shut Down Portion Of 110 Freeway Near Downtown LA
Protesters block traffic on the 110 Freeway near downtown L.A. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez
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AP
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A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war shut down the southbound 110 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning for more than an hour, snarling traffic for miles.
The protesters started blocking traffic between the 101 Freeway and 3rd Street shortly after 9 a.m., with more than a dozen people sitting across all lanes while interlocking their arms, according to footage carried by KTLA. Southbound traffic at one point was backed up well past Dodger Stadium.
About an hour later, most of the protesters had been detained and taken away, but traffic remained at a standstill as CHP officers worked to unclog the traffic stop. At around 10:30 a.m., the freeway slowly started to reopen, first with two lanes as officers started directing drivers through.
The CHP said 75 people were arrested in connection with the demonstration. Tow trucks were also called in to assist with abandoned vehicles.
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A group called If Not Now, which describes itself as a "movement of American Jews" that supports the end of U.S. support for Israel’s military operation, took credit for the protest. One of the protesters, Adam Hirsch, told LAist it was Jewish values that led him to take part.
“Particularly the value of pikuach nefesh, which holds every life as sacred and holds that to extinguish a life is to extinguish an entire world, and to save a life is to save an entire world," he said.
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