Gaza cease-fire protest at San Francisco International Airport blocks passenger movement
A protest against Israel's war in Gaza temporarily blocked the movement of passengers at San Francisco International Airport Wednesday morning.
Pro-Palestinian protesters calling for a cease-fire in Israel's war with Hamas blocked the road in front of the departure level of the International Terminal at about 9 a.m. Another group held a protest in front of the security screening area inside the terminal, which remained open during the protest.
Passenger foot traffic was being re-rerouted around the protest, an airport social media post said.
"We're a public facility – we have to provide for free speech. But also we want to ensure the safety and the security of our passengers, and we want to ensure that our passengers can get through the process," said Doug Yakel, an airport spokesperson.
In a press statement, the protest organizers said they planned to shut down various areas of SFO and demand a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and an end to the U.S. arms supply to Israel.
"Our intention is not to harm our community. Our intention is to use civil disobedience and non-violence in order to have our elected officials pay attention," said Shiva Mishek, who was there for the protest.
Among the areas blocked were the security check-in entrances with protesters holding banners saying "Stop the World for Gaza," "Permanent Ceasefire Now" and "Stop Arming Israel."
They’ve blocked off the G Gates security & A Gates Security from the international terminal inside of SFO. Here’s one group at one end of the terminal @KPIXtv https://t.co/4cLp8BAOL3 pic.twitter.com/NXwsWH4GUO
— Max Darrow (@MaxDarrowTV) March 13, 2024
"We don't want to be here. We have tried everything," said protest organizer Jennifer Trang in a prepared statement. "We have met with elected officials, written letters, and passed city-wide resolutions. We have taken to the streets. We have sounded the alarm in the media. The world has denounced the Israeli war against Palestinians in Gaza and our politicians continue to fuel and fund this genocide. "We need a permanent ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza now ... As people of conscience, it is a necessity for us to take action to stop this escalating genocide."
A protester from Oakland who went by the name of Shivani says they'd like to see the U.S. stop funding Israel.
"We've been calling for a permanent ceasefire and he has yet to meet that demand. He [Biden] has continued to arm Israel, sending them billions and billions of dollars – and dropping paltry amounts of aid to the people in Gaza, and we won't stand for that," Shivani said. "This is a part of a longer fight for a permanent ceasefire. So, until we get a permanent ceasefire, our work here and our work as a movement is not done."
Both the AirTrain system and BART trains were operating within the International Terminal during the protest, an airport spokesman said. Terminal passengers were directed to be dropped off at the Kiss and Fly lot at the Rental Car Center and take an AirTrain.
As of noon Wednesday, the protest had broken up and normal airport operations were continuing as normal.
San Francisco police reported no arrests.