Protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza briefly shut down SB 405 Freeway in Palms; 9 arrested

SAWTELLE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Protesters calling for an arms embargo and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza walked onto the southbound 405 Freeway in Palms on Tuesday morning and briefly shut down all southbound lanes.

The protesters, organized in part by the group IfNotNow Los Angeles, walked onto the freeway around 9 a.m. in the area of Venice Boulevard, creating an instant backup of traffic south of the 10 Freeway.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene, and the demonstrators were quickly moved out of traffic lanes. The group, consisting of several dozen people, could then be seen marching south along the freeway shoulder and being escorted off the roadway under the watch of CHP officers.

By 9:40 a.m., all lanes except one were reopened to slow-moving traffic on the freeway.

There were no reports of injuries. Video from AIR7 showed CHP officers detaining several demonstrators. Nine were formally arrested, according to the Highway Patrol.

"The CHP supports the First Amendment right to protest and assemble, but blocking roadways and obstructing the free movement of others is illegal and dangerous for all involved," the agency said in a statement, adding that it would be working with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office "to hold them accountable."

Organizers of the protest said in a statement: "American Jews and allies have shut down the 405 freeway in West Los Angeles in protest of U.S. support for Israel's assault on Gaza. With one week to go before the Democratic National Convention, protesters are coalescing around three demands for all elected officials: call for a lasting ceasefire, reject the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and legislate an arms embargo."

City News Service contributed to this report.