MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Demonstrators for a pro-Palestinian protest marched across the Memphis-Arkansas I-40 bridge Saturday, causing lanes to completely close.
Protestors gathered at City Hall Saturday afternoon before eventually making their way to the I-40 bridge.
Just after 3 p.m., demonstrators could be seen on the Tennessee Department of Transportation cameras marching across the I-40 bridge while traffic was backed up behind them.
Protestors covered all lanes of traffic going in both directions, linking arms and demanding a response from local leaders like Rep. Steve Cohen.
“Until Steve Cohen cosponsors for a ceasefire,” protestor Jana Abuirshaid said. “Until this genocide stops. Until our tax money is no longer funding what is going on in Palestine.”
At around 4:30 p.m., the side of the bridge heading toward Arkansas reopened as protestors moved to one side of the bridge to let cars through. As of 5 p.m., all lanes of traffic were open, and the bridge was cleared.
Arkansas State Police said a woman had a medical emergency and wasn’t able to move through the traffic backup. ASP troopers were able to get an ambulance to her and airlifted her to Memphis.