x
Breaking News
More () »

Traffic moving again on I-40 bridge after being blocked by pro-Palestinian protestors Saturday

MPD said there were no arrests made in connection with the entire protest.

Multiple lanes were blocked on the Memphis-Arkansas I-40 bridge during a pro-Palestinian protest that began at Memphis City Hall on Saturday.

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) cameras revealed a large crowd with traffic completely stopped behind them for close to an hour.

Memphis Police said they responded shortly after 3 p.m. as traffic was blocked east to west. Officers said they made the scene on the eastbound side of the bridge. They then ushered the crowd off of the highway. 

As of around 4:30 p.m. TDOT cameras revealed that some traffic was starting to move westward to some degree. MPD said traffic was flowing in both directions by 5 p.m.

MPD said there were no arrests made in connection with the entire protest.

The demonstration came at an arguably hectic time for travel in the city of Memphis as the I-55 bridge was closed by TDOT for construction during the weekend — making the I-40 bridge the only way to travel from Memphis to Arkansas and vice versa. 

Protestors on the scene said the move was planned. The protest began at city hall by organization Memphis Voices for Palestine "in light of the recent ruling by the International Criminal Court," that stated "plausible evidence of genocide happening in Gaza by the Isreali military."

"As we reach well over the 100-day mark of war on Gaza, many people of all walks of life, of all faiths, and races are saying enough is enough," Memphian supporter of the rally Seema Rasoul said the morning of the protest. "They do not want their tax dollars being used to kill Palestinian men, women and children. We are organizing this rally to bring together all those who believe in justice and humanity."

In November, the group previously organized a protest outside of Steve Cohen's residence to demand he support a ceasefire and end his private investments in Raytheon, a weapons manufacturer whose products have reportedly been sold to Israel.

This is a developing story. ABC24 will update this article with more information as it becomes available.  

Before You Leave, Check This Out