Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel disrupted traffic outside the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport for nearly four hours on Wednesday.
Organizer Joshua Caldwell said about 300 protesters arrived at 8 a.m. and blocked traffic outside and security lanes inside and held up banners and signs calling for an end to Israel’s bombing campaign.
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 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.
‘We don’t want to take action like this’
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.
“We don’t want to take action like this,” Caldwell said in a phone interview. He said the participants felt compelled to stop what he called a genocide in Gaza.
Another protester, Jennifer Trang, said those involved had tried several failed tactics before deciding the airport protest was needed.
“We have met with elected officials, written letters, and passed city-wide resolutions,” Trang said in a statement. “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.”
Trang said, “We need a permanent ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza now.”
Photos and video shared by the group showed traffic outside the terminal being blocked by cones with a stop sign on them with the words “Stop bombing Gaza” written on them.
Inside the terminal, a large group of people were seen gathered near Gate A of the International Terminal banging drums and shouting. One person walked around with a microphone, dragging an amplifier behind them. The group held a long, horizontal sign that read “Stop the world for Gaza” and another sign that said, “Stop arming Israel now.”
The bombardment of Gaza by Israel began after Hamas militants came across the border from Gaza on Oct. 7. They killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 240 people, the majority of whom are Israeli but also included Americans and other nationals. About 130 remain captive as of Wednesday.
Caldwell said no further protests were planned at the moment in hopes that they would not be needed.
Israel has demanded the immediate release of hostages before ending its bombing campaign, which the United Nations estimated has killed over 30,000 people and injured more than 72,000, most of them civilians.
The United States is Israel’s largest military backer and protesters have frequently targeted the Biden Administration, local public spaces and roadways for protesting the administration’s policy of supporting Israel’s actions.