Protests Shut Down Highways and Airports: Bay Area, Chicago See Disruptions Amid Global Call for Palestinian Solidarity

Oakland, California United States of America
Hundreds of protesters blocked Interstate-880 in Oakland and five were arrested. Simultaneously, dozens shut down westbound Interstate 190 in Chicago.
Pro-Palestinian protests caused significant disruptions in the Bay Area and Chicago on April 15, 2024.
Protesters demanded an end to US support of Israel and blocked all southbound lanes on the Golden Gate Bridge, causing extensive delays.
Protests were part of A15, a global economic blockade campaign for Palestinian solidarity.
Seven protesters blocked northbound I-880 in Oakland using barrels and were arrested. All lanes reopened by 1:15 p.m.
Protests Shut Down Highways and Airports: Bay Area, Chicago See Disruptions Amid Global Call for Palestinian Solidarity

Pro-Palestinian protests took place in multiple locations across the Bay Area on Monday, April 15, causing significant disruptions to traffic and resulting in numerous arrests.

The first protest occurred on northbound I-880 in Oakland at around 6:15 a.m., where seven protesters blocked the highway using barrels filled with concrete and chained themselves to them. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was forced to cut through the barrels before making arrests, and all lanes of northbound I-880 had reopened by 1:15 p.m.

A second protest took place on the Golden Gate Bridge in both directions, causing extensive delays for commuters. Protesters demanded an end to US support of Israel and blocked all lanes in the southbound direction at around 7:30 a.m., while seven protesters were arrested at this location.

Protests also disrupted traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland, where hundreds of protesters made their way onto the highway with banners and blocked all lanes at Seventh Street. Five of them were arrested.

Simultaneously, dozens of protesters blocked access to Terminal 1 at O'Hare airport in Chicago and completely shut down westbound Interstate 190, causing miles-long backups during rush hour.

Protests were reported in other major cities around the world as part of a global economic blockade campaign. The Oakland Economic Blockade Against Palestinian Genocide said they were protesting alongside 56 cities worldwide.

The California Highway Patrol made multiple arrests at each location and closed off the northbound lanes of I-880 in West Oakland as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic across the Golden Gate Bridge. The Sig-alert for southbound I-880 was issued at 8:15 a.m., while all lanes of northbound Interstate 880 were closed at 7th St. in West Oakland.

The protests are part of A15, a worldwide economic blockade in solidarity with Palestine and calling for an arms embargo and an end to US taxpayer funding for Israel. Monday was the tax deadline for most Americans.

Protesters have been arrested at previous demonstrations, including during the November 2023 Bay Bridge Protest, where 78 people were charged but a case against them has since been dismissed. Instead, they accepted a diversion agreement and will each have to do five hours of community service and pay about $4,500 in restitution.

Stay with ABC7 News for updates on this developing story.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Were all protesters arrested?
  • Were there any injuries reported during the protests?

Sources

76%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Anti-Israel agitators block Golden Gate Bridge traffic

Fox News Media Greg Norman, Tuesday, 16 April 2024 00:24
  • Unique Points
    • Anti-Israel protesters blocked traffic on California's Golden Gate Bridge on Monday.
    • Seven protesters were removed from the scene and more could be removed.
    • Protests also disrupted traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland and caused extensive delays in the Bay Area.
  • Accuracy
    • A15 Action group called for economic blockades for a Free Palestine.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the anti-Israel protesters' position and ignores any counterarguments or context. The title itself is sensationalist and emotional manipulative by implying that the protesters are 'agitators' who are causing unnecessary disruption, rather than framing it as a political protest. The article also does not disclose any sources for the information presented.
    • The global economy is complicit in genocide.
    • Join participating cities in blocking the arteries of capitalism and jamming the wheels of production.
    • Traffic on both lanes of California’s Golden Gate Bridge has been shut down Monday, the California Highway Patrol tells Fox News Digital, as images emerging from the scene showed anti-Israel protesters holding banners with the messages ‘Stop the world for Gaza’ and ‘End the siege on Gaza now!’
    • Aerial images captured by KTVU later showed the Golden Gate Bridge protesters being taken into custody and the banners being put away.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The authors use inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'These protesters are facing multiple charges of which can include, but are not limited to refusal to disperse, blocking traffic, blocking a bridge,' and 'There is a need to shift from symbolic actions to those that cause pain to the economy.' These statements imply that the protesters' actions are dangerous and harmful without providing evidence. This is an example of an appeal to emotion fallacy.
    • These protesters are facing multiple charges of which can include, but are not limited to refusal to disperse, blocking traffic, blocking a bridge,
  • Bias (80%)
    The article reports on anti-Israel protests that have caused traffic disruptions in California. The authors do not express any bias towards or against the protesters or their cause, but they do describe the actions of the protesters as illegal and dangerous. However, they also provide quotes from the protesters themselves, which could be seen as reflecting a specific position. The score is reduced because of this disproportionate number of quotes that reflect a specific position.
    • ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS SHUT DOWN SENATE CAFETERIA; AROUND 50 ARRESTED
      • Join participating cities in blocking the arteries of capitalism and jamming the wheels of production.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      78%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      40 arrested after protest blocks I-190 near Chicago O'Hare airport; Loop march stops traffic

      ABC7 Chicago Monday, 15 April 2024 13:47
      • Unique Points
        • Dozens of protesters blocked all southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.
        • Protesters demanded an end to US support of Israel and blocked bridges as part of a global economic blockade campaign.
      • Accuracy
        • Dozens were arrested on Monday after Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the roadway entering into Terminal 1 at O’Hare airport.
        • Protesters completely blocked access to Terminal 1 at the airport and all lanes on westbound Interstate 190, causing a miles-long backup during rush hour.
        • The objective of the protest was to bring attention to the war in Gaza and support Palestinians.
      • Deception (30%)
        The article engages in selective reporting by focusing on the disruption caused to travelers and not providing enough context about the reason for the protest. The author also uses emotional manipulation by quoting frustrated travelers without acknowledging their perspective is not representative of all protesters. Lastly, there is a lack of disclosure regarding sources.
        • One woman walked, carrying her child. ‘This is the last thing we wanna be doing’, she said.
        • There appeared to be some heated exchanges between protesters and police, and some people were seen being taken away in handcuffs.
        • Traffic came to a complete standstill right in the middle of rush hour at one of the busiest airports in the country.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The author reports on the actions of pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked access to Terminal 1 at O'Hare airport and Interstate 190, causing significant traffic disruptions. The author does not make any fallacious statements but does include inflammatory rhetoric from some of the protesters. However, this is not a fallacy as it is a direct quotation from the protesters themselves.
        • ][Enough is enough. The U.S. government has given us no choice but to disrupt business as usual][/
        • ][They chose April 15 because it's tax day in the U.S.[/
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      98%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Protesters arrested after shutting down Golden Gate Bridge for hours

      NBC Bay Area News Stephen Ellison, Tuesday, 16 April 2024 00:26
      • Unique Points
        • Dozens of protesters blocked all southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.
        • Protesters demanded the U.S. to stop arming and funding Israel in the war in Gaza.
        • About 15 people had been taken into custody by 11:30 a.m., with officials expecting to arrest 25-30 total.
      • Accuracy
        • Seven protesters were removed from the scene and more could be removed.
        • Protests also disrupted traffic on Interstate-880 in Oakland and caused extensive delays in the Bay Area.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      59%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      'Free Palestine' protesters block part of I-880 in Oakland, Golden Gate Bridge

      KTVU Fox2 & KICU Plus News Station Amanda Quintana Tuesday, 16 April 2024 00:28
      • Unique Points
        • Protesters blocked several sections of freeway around the Bay Area, including I-880 in Oakland and the Golden Gate Bridge during morning commute hours.
        • Dozens of CHP officers were present in riot gear near I-880 protesters who had painted the colors of Palestine on the highway's center median.
        • Protesters used concrete drums and chains to impede officers’ efforts to remove them from the highways.
      • Accuracy
        • , Protesters also impeded both directions of the Golden Gate Bridge.
        • , Seven people were arrested during the Oakland protest, and 26 people were taken into custody at the Golden Gate Bridge protest.
        • , Protesters demanded an end to US support of Israel and blocked bridges as part of a global economic blockade campaign.
      • Deception (30%)
        The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of the protesters' actions being an economic blockade to demand an end to the war between Israel and Hamas. The article also uses emotional manipulation by quoting a protester stating 'People need to stay informed of what's going on, babies are dying.' which is intended to evoke sympathy from readers.
        • People need to stay informed of what's going on, babies are dying.
        • Protesters who said they were attempting an economic blockade to demand an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, where thousands of people in Gaza have died since Oct. 7.
      • Fallacies (75%)
        The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by quoting a protester's statement about a 'genocide going on across the world' without providing any context or evidence to support this claim. This is an appeal to emotion and can be considered an informal fallacy.
        • "There’s a genocide going on across the world and people have to be informed about it, whether it’s going to work or on social media,"
        • "People need to stay informed of what’s going on, babies are dying."
      • Bias (5%)
        The author uses language that depicts the protesters as extreme or unreasonable by stating that their goal is to disrupt the global economy and create economic blockades. This implies that their actions are not justified or reasonable.
        • ‒Anytime, anywhere. Only with FOX LOCAL — download today and install using Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Google Android TV, and Vizio televisions.
          • "Free Palestine" protesters came face to face with law enforcement officers near Interstate 880 in Oakland on Monday. Protesters who said they were attempting an economic blockade to demand an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, where thousands of people in Gaza have died since Oct. 7. The protesters said their goal is to disrupt the global economy.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          99%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          38 Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after shutdown of Golden Gate Bridge, I-880 in Oakland: CHP

          ABC7 News - San Francisco Bay Area Monday, 15 April 2024 13:58
          • Unique Points
            • Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down the Golden Gate Bridge and I-880 in Oakland for hours on Monday.
            • 38 people were arrested and face conspiracy charges.
            • First protest happened on northbound I-880 in Oakland at 5th Ave. where seven protesters were arrested.
            • Second protest blocked all lanes in the southbound direction of the Golden Gate Bridge causing traffic to back up for miles into Marin. 26 protesters were arrested.
            • Protests are part of A15, a worldwide economic blockade in solidarity with Palestine and calling for an arms embargo and an end to US taxpayer funding for Israel.
            • Organizers say these protests are happening alongside 56 cities around the world. Protests have blocked traffic in other major cities Monday morning.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication