Traffic & Transit
Protesters Shut Down Golden Gate Bridge: 'Total Gridlock,' Police Say
There was "total gridlock" on the bridge as of shortly before 8 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
![There was gridlock Wednesday morning on the Golden Gate Bridge, police said.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/21854731/20240214/031110/styles/patch_image/public/898fb44d-2f03-42e7-801f-bacf5c976cca___14151103042.jpg)
SAN FRANCISCO — Protesters calling for an end to U.S. aid for Israel amid its war with Hamas shut down the Golden Gate Bridge during the Wednesday morning rush hour, according to police.
As of about 7:45 a.m., police reported people blocking all the bridge’s lanes as well as the presence of signs and banners. By 7:55 a.m., there was “total gridlock,” according to the California Highway Patrol’s initial reports.
Southbound traffic was moving again as of just before 8 a.m. and all lanes were clear by around 8:15 a.m., police reported.
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No arrests were made following the protest, highway patrol Officer Darrel Horner said, noting there were about 20 protesters on the bridge.
Organizers said in a news release that the action was in response to Israel's recent bombing of Rafah, a city on the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators held banners that said "Stop Arming Israel" and "Hands off Rafah."
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Bay City News contributed to this report.
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