Nearly 60 individuals were apprehended on Yom Kippur for blocking traffic on New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge, according to local law enforcement.
The hundreds of individuals present at Thursday’s demonstration were members of Rabbis for Ceasefire, a group primarily comprised of Rabbis and Rabbinical students who voiced support for the free Palestine movement, as per the group’s own account.
This protest comes amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. Reports indicate that this conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. This has sparked demonstrations and protests globally, demanding a ceasefire.
After being alerted to the scene on the Brooklyn Bridge, NYPD officers arrested almost 60 protestors as they clapped and sang in Hebrew, as seen in social media videos shared by the protesters. The NYPD has not yet confirmed whether all protesters have been released from custody or if they will face criminal charges.
The protest began earlier at Brooklyn Borough Hall, with a Yizkor service, a special Jewish ceremony for the deceased. Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, also referred to as the “Day of Atonement.” According to the NYPD, the protestors blocked all lanes of traffic on the bridge for one hour.
The group, Rabbis for Ceasefire, aims to “collaborate with the broad Jewish Left ecosystem and multiracial, interfaith coalitions to practice a Judaism we can be proud of for future generations,” according to their website.
The Israel-Hamas War commenced after Hamas launched an unexpected terrorist attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 individuals and taking 251 others hostage, as per the Israeli government. President Donald Trump on Monday proposed a peace plan to end the ongoing conflict. Hamas responded Friday, stating it would consider releasing all remaining hostages if Israel withdraws completely from Gaza and “proper field conditions are met.”
