San Francisco police arrested protesters on Thursday after demonstrations blocked the Bay Bridge, a key commuter route into the city hosting the APEC forum. Organizers said 200 people attended the demonstration, calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war and US military aid to Israel. Hundreds of police made arrests and led protesters away in zip ties after the California Highway Patrol issued a dispersal order. Local emergency services warned of the bridge blockage during morning rush hour. Several groups participated in the demonstration, including the Palestinian Youth Movement and Bay Area Palestine Solidarity. Before the dispersal, protesters chained themselves together through vehicles adorned with signs that said “Free Palestine.” Traffic on the bridge began to move as of about 10:45 a.m. after a backup. One commuter, Claudia Felix, was stuck in traffic for almost six hours and expressed support for the protesters’ anti-war message but suggested they protest in the city rather than on the bridge.
