WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Pro-Palestinian protestors blocked all lanes on Interstate 40 at the Arkansas-Tennessee bridge, causing standstill traffic for a little over an hour Saturday afternoon.
More than a dozen police officials addressed those participating in the protest, which started at Memphis City Hall and was organized by Memphis Voices for Palestine.
According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the situation on the I-40 bridge started improving around 5:03 p.m. as protesters were "being moved."
Lanes are now clear, and traffic is beginning to flow again.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders acknowledged the protest in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Thank you to Arkansas law enforcement for clearing the pro-Hamas protestors blocking one of our state’s busiest bridges," Sanders said. "You have a right to free speech. But if you break the law and endanger others, you will go to jail. Arkansas stands with Israel."
While on the bridge, Memphis Voices for Palestine shared a video on Facebook where a member is heard saying, "If you want your voice to be heard, you shut down commerce."
The Tennessee Department of Transportation said more than 40,000 vehicles cross the I-40 bridge daily, and about a quarter of the vehicles are trucks.
Additionally, Memphis Voices for Palestine said they wanted to take over the bridge to raise awareness and ultimately get Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen "out of office."
Cohen has represented Tennessee's 9th congressional district since 2007, and Memphis Voices for Palestine allege that he "personally profits off the genocide of Palestinians" by supposedly having stock in Raytheon, a defense contractor and industrial corporation that specializes in weapons, military and commercial electronics.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
