Pro-Palestine protesters storm Los Angeles, New York airports, block entrance

Pro-Palestinian protests erupted at two of America’s busiest airports, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Wednesday morning (US local time).

At LAX, the situation escalated when protesters began to engage in violence, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. They threw a police officer to the ground and used various objects, including construction debris and concrete blocks, to block a road leading into the airport, the LA police said in a social media post.

“Protesters threw a police officer to the ground, used construction debris, road signs, tree branches and blocks of concrete to obstruct” a road leading into the airport “while attacking uninvolved passersby in their vehicles,” police said in a statement.

A total of 36 individuals were arrested, with most facing rioting charges, and one individual was specifically arrested for battery on a police officer, according to news agency Reuters. Despite the chaos, the airport police managed to reopen the entrance within approximately 45 minutes, stating there was no impact on flights.

PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS IN NEW YORK
Meanwhile, in New York, 26 people were taken into custody at JFK Airport for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic. Protesters had blocked the Van Wyck Expressway, causing a significant traffic jam.

To assist stranded travellers, the Port Authority dispatched two buses to transport them to the airport terminals. The blockade lasted around 20 minutes before authorities could clear the roadway, Reuters reported.

The protesters carried banners with slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Divest from Genocide,” expressing their opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza.

These protests are part of a series of demonstrations that have occurred since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on October 7.