Protests in support of Palestine took place across the country on Monday, with some protesters causing traffic delays for several hours. However, the response from police varied depending on the location, with officers in Florida taking quick and decisive action while those in California and Illinois appeared to let the protesters disrupt the lives of their citizens.
Video shared by WSVN-TV shows Miami police promptly responding to a group of pro-Palestine protesters who attempted to block the entrance to PortMiami and halt traffic. Miami police spokesman Michael Vega stated that seven individuals were arrested for obstructing traffic and refusing to remain in their designated area at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 3 Street.
According to the Miami Herald, obstructing a roadway is a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Around 150 protesters participated in the event organized by the South Florida Coalition for Palestine, holding signs with slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “No tax [dollars] for genocide” in reference to Tax Day in the United States.
One protester told the Miami Herald, “We are seeing resistance by the Palestinian people and by the world. People are fed up and cannot bear to watch this genocide continue or have our tax dollars go to funding war and weapons being used to murder Palestinians. This is why we are here today.”
Meanwhile, a similar protest in San Francisco caused major disruptions as the Golden Gate Bridge was shut down for several hours, affecting commuters like Ronald Davis, who told Fox News that he was stuck for six hours due to the protest. He expressed frustration at having to miss half of his workday and emphasized the inconvenience and economic impact of the protest, stating, “Having to miss six hours of work, that’s a lot of money, you know. That’s pretty much a day’s worth of work.”
A video shared by Firstpost on YouTube showed police standing by as protesters blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. Similarly, in Chicago, protesters caused delays at O’Hare International Airport, leading to the Chicago Department of Aviation declaring “substantial delays” in air traffic. This protest also lasted around 45 minutes.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict stretches on, protests supporting Palestine have become increasingly bold and disruptive. Just last week, protesters in Dearborn, Michigan, were seen chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” This kind of deep-seated hatred is unacceptable, especially when expressed on American soil. It is concerning to see police in San Francisco appear to appease these protesters while officers in Florida uphold the law and protect its citizens.
This divide reflects the ideological split in our country, with the left gravitating towards an anti-Israel and anti-American sentiment. The actions of the police in San Francisco show the consequences of this mindset, with the disruption to the lives of San Franciscans being deemed less important than appeasing the protesters.
While everyone has the right to protest, actions such as blocking traffic and chanting hate-filled slogans should not be tolerated. It is crucial to promote law and order and discourage the spread of vitriol towards our country. In the end, it comes down to the type of America we want to live in – one that upholds the law and stands against hate, or one that fosters chaos and allows hateful rhetoric to thrive. The choice is ours.