photo credit: Joshua Caldwell
Protesters left San Francisco International Airport on Wednesday afternoon after a nearly four-hour-long protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
Organizer Joshua Caldwell said about 300 protesters gathered at the airport’s International Terminal at 8 a.m. They blocked traffic outside and security lanes inside and held up banners and signs calling for an end to the bombing campaign that the United Nations says has claimed more than 30,000 lives as of Wednesday.
Caldwell said the decision to disperse was made for the safety of protesters, but not because of any specific threat. He said participants were glad that nobody was arrested and that the group felt it had support for its actions from some travelers.
“Civil disobedience is a necessary calling when atrocities are being committed in our name,” Caldwell said.
SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel confirmed that the protesters had dispersed and the areas previously occupied in the airport were clear. The airport’s social channels said roadways and checkpoints were clear by 11:42 a.m. Yakel said there were no flight delays because of the protests.
The airport’s social media channels did recommend earlier Wednesday that international travelers be dropped off at the airport’s “Kiss and Fly” parking lot and take the AirTrain. At 10:09 a.m., an update on social media said that passengers using ride-hailing services or traveling internationally could use the domestic terminal and use the AirTrain to travel between terminals.
Caldwell said the protesters were Bay Area residents who were not part of any organization or group besides their shared motivation to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
29 comments
Free speech, protests, are rights for all. Blocking public access to anything is not a given right. Arrest the ones that are physically blocking public assess to building or roads.
SF won’t prosecute any arrests-a 60 year tradition.
It would have been a different story if it was a protest against the weaponized FBI/DOJ/CIA against Trump.
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California… the land of no consequence to unacceptable behavior.
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And people wonder why we have lost faith in government promoting public safety and civility.
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Protesters’ First Amendment rights end when it affects the law abiding public going about their lives.
Throw the book at them, it’s the only way they will learn.
Literally, preferably a hard cover, and lengthy book, as many times as it takes.
How about ‘War and Peace’, hardback.
Mental midgets showing off.
… so how many thousands of people were inconvenienced and possibly miss their flight … and yet if there was – say – a pro 2nd Amendment rally protesting Calif laws – how long do you think that would have been let to go on?
Get a life! Get a job! No one cares about your feelings.
Water cannons are a good deterrent ( filled with skunk water)
It’s ironic how when you are legitimately dropping off/picking up someone at this airport you are under so much pressure to move it along as quickly as possible (practically jumping out of a moving car w/ your suitcase in hand to avoid being yelled at) but protestors that allegedly ‘blocked traffic outside and security lanes’ for nearly 4 hours can do so w/o consequence.
How many of the organizers and participants are PAID for their activities ?
When will DAs begin charging conspiracy charges for use of social media
when protests break the law or cause a death.
An why not charge organizers of side show events when there are injuries.
Conspiracy charges for organizing a protest on social media, are you serious?
– Protestors at politically inconvenient rallies would be arrested.
-Selective prosecution would be the norm.
-The definition of who is considered a “social media organizer” could be so broad as to implicate anyone who shared a link or viewed the web page.
-The need to ascertain what profiles shared or viewed the web page would give the government carte blanche to investigate anyone’s internet presence.
I hate it when people beg the government to take away their rights.
Selective prosecution has already become the norm.
yoyohop, … Thank You for your post
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“Selective prosecution would be the norm” I submit that it has and is happening on a regular basis.
Doesn’t seem to be stopping Liberal DEM office holders or Feds when it came to 06 Jan.
Or those they view as a threat to their retention of power.
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“…politically inconvenient rallies…” Bank card companies and cell provider records were looked thru by FEDs and supposedly used to prosecute 06 Jan. Where’s the country’s indignation ? ? ?
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‘The Stingray: How Law Enforcement Can Track Your Every Move’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzSgLpNrr2E
‘Stingray Tracking Devices: Who’s Got Them?’
ACLU https://tinyurl.com/3yd2wyxz
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:…who is considered a “social media organizer”…” Since electronic communication is time and location stamped, first one who posted then makes numerous follow up organizing posts.
Electronic trails are real easy to follow.
Elon Musk summed it up
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“If you scare people enough,
they will demand removal of freedom”
—Elon Musk
Look up patriot act put in place after 9/11
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Our founding fathers were incredibly wise, having experienced first hand the abusive behavior those in authority can commit. Which is why they gave us a most precious gift, The Courts. Now it does often take time for The Courts to slap down politicians making orders which are unconstitutional.
Research the number of times The Courts ruled against newsom’s covid decisions.
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Too few know of this Quote and unfortunately even fewer understand it,
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
–Ronald Reagan
So you’re basically ackowledging my points but still holding your opinion?
The founding fathers didn’t give us the courts. Much of our legal system is derived from the Magna Carta. They did however, emphasize the importance of separation of powers. And it is the breakdown of this separation of powers – the willingness of the judicial system to act on behalf of the sitting president to prosecute a former preside t, for example, that makes your proposition so dangerous.
This isn’t helping their cause.
I will never support a cause that protest in this manner. Don’t impede people from going about their business. They have no power to stop the war. Go protest in Gaza. See how that works for you.
As a matter of fact it always achieves the exact opposite hatred & venom for their precious right to be heard
That’s not near enough chubby white women to keep Atticus from a ticketed flight. Might have to sacrifice a checked bag, but it wouldn’t be the first time. 😎
Always about race with you. Why? Is your intellect this limited? I expect better in the future.
🤡. Since there’s no way I could ever meet MAGAs impossibly high standards in racial tolerance and equality, there’s no point in even trying is there? 🤡
Dang missed this by a week. My car would’ve needed a car wash.
This is ridiculous. Cuff them and toss them out. This is America with tens of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan combat vets. Sorry but there isn’t any sympathy for Palestine in my book. They started it and won’t ever stop. The good people among them need to seek better leadership or get out.
Q. “What are you protesting?”
A. “What have you got?”
These protestors should watch one hour of the Hamas-generated videos made during their October 7 attack on the innocent people in Israel. What Hamas did is beyond horrific. These protesters are tacitly supporting the October 7 attack.
I live in the magical kingdom of Cambodia … but if I did live in KHALIPHORNIYA … I’d be protesting the protests.
Just encourages more civil disobedience. Protesters don’t have my support. Disappointed in our leadership, but that’s California.
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