RICHMOND, Va.-- Traffic along Interstate 95 South (Interstate 64 East) in Richmond was brought to a standstill for more than an hour Monday morning, as protesters blocked the roadway near the I-64 interchange.
A group claiming to be part of the protest stated that they were protesting the siege of Gaza.
The group of at least nine people tied themselves together using chicken wire, PVC pipes, and two ladders, as they blocked all lanes of traffic right near the Arthur Ashe Boulevard exit.
"Arriving on scene, state police encountered nine individuals lying in the southbound lanes linked themselves together using two ladders, a large metal chain and 'sleeping dragon' devices,'" a Virginia State Police spokesperson wrote in an email. "At 7:09 a.m., state police declared an Unlawful Assembly (Code of Virginia 18.2-406...§ 18.2-406. What constitutes an unlawful assembly; punishment). For the protesters' safety and to expedite the reopening of the interstate lanes, the protesters were guided to the right, southbound shoulder of the interstate. Three of the protesters voluntarily gave up almost immediately. They were taken into custody and transported off the interstate. At approximately 7:20 a.m., two southbound lanes of I-95 were reopened to through traffic."
Watch the moment police removed Free Palestine protesters from Interstate 95 in Virginia
Virginia State Police believe the group entered the highway, via a nearby embankment.
Another small group supporting the protest gathered in the parking lot of Winn Transportation using a tambourine and chanting "Free Palestine."
"A lot of people are late for work this morning, that’s for sure," explained Columbus Little who works at Soar 365 nearby. "One of them went up the embankment, and the police escorted them back down.”
At points during the four-hour-long event, there were tensions between State Police and protesters.
CBS 6 cameras were rolling as at least two people were arrested.
Virginia State Police spokesperson said the VSP extrication team had to be called in to disconnect the protesters from their "sleeping dragon maneuver."
"These are something that we train for, for these various situations," she explained.
The protesters claim to be allies acting in solidarity with the Palestinian Liberation Movement, saying they put their bodies on the line to demand the U.S. cease funding for the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
"You're dealing with 65-70 mile per hour vehicles, it's amazing that no one was injured," said Geller. "It was dark when they came out onto the interstate. They put their lives at risk, as well as the motorists.”
Virginia State Police released the names of some of those who were arrested and charged with stopping the vehicle of another, obstructing free passage of others, unlawful assembly, and being a pedestrian on the interstate:
- Zayneabideen Rasul Al-Murshidi, 23 of Roanoke, Va.
- Max Hudson Gray Holland, 24, of Henrico, Va.
- Charles D. Caines, 23, of Round Hill, Va.
- Kemp Walker Barber, 25, of Richmond, Va.
- Connor Joris McCarty, 21, of Norfolk, Va.
- Naomi Destiny Isaac, 25, of Richmond Va.
- Sarah Elizabeth Milkowski Dahlgren, of Henrico Va.
- Jasmine Juliet Cuellar, 30, of Richmond Va.
Little said he supported the right to protest but wished this one was done more safely.
"I just hope it gets better," he noted. "It's better ways of doing things, that's for sure.”
At a Richmond city council meeting that took place just hours after the protest ended, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups spoke, each defending their cause to councilmembers.
While a ceasefire resolution has been brought up to council members before, no action has been taken.
“I urge you, please avoid any one-sided, biased or inflammatory resolution which solely blames the war on Israel, and it ignores the role of Hamas,” said one Israeli supporter.
“These terrorists invaded Israel and committed unspeakable acts,” added another Israeli supporter.
Princess Blanding, who ran for Virginia Governor in 2021, spoke in support of a resolution, like one imposed by the council in the 1980s in response to the apartheid in South Africa.
“We call on our city council to pass a ceasefire resolution to immediately cut all financial support to the Israeli government,” Blanding said.
While several protests have taken place since the Israeli and Hamas war started in October, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is sparking a call of action between the dates March 11 and March 18.
Zaid Mahdawi, a Palestinian supporter, said he hoped peaceful protests will help send a message of solidarity.
“As a Palestinian, I’ve been there twice and I just want people to understand that it’s an occupation, an apartheid and a genocide and ethnic cleaning going on,” Mahdawi said.
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