Anti-war protesters almost arrested after blocking Durham Freeway for hours during rush hour

Hundreds of anti-war protesters were almost arrested Thursday evening after blocking traffic for hours on N.C. Highway 147 in Durham during rush hour.

The protest started at CCB Plaza around 4 p.m., and protesters were calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

"We are demanding a ceasefire, and our elected officials have the power to do that," said Noah Rubin-Blose, a student rabbi in attendance.

Around 4:30 p.m., the group began marching from CCB plaza in Durham and continued onto N.C. 147.

The group could be seen blocking the roadway on the highway and were gathered on the railings of the Mangum Street overpass.

Sky 5 was over the scene as protesters blocked traffic during rush hour. The Durham police declared the movement an "illegal protest" around 6 p.m., and the road cleared around 7:49 p.m. Thursday.

"Some people are willing to risk arrest in this moment," said Kasey Kinsella, a volunteer at the protest. "That's something we're seeing across the country and the world when it comes to civil disobedience."

The protesters did allow traffic to flow through one lane on the Durham Freeway, but police completely shutdown the northbound lanes of the road.

"I would like them to join us, [to] get our of their cars and join us," Rubin-Blose said.

The protest was organized by a pro-Palestinian group known as Jewish Voice for Peace.

“It is not antisemitic to call for a ceasefire,” one protester said at CCB Plaza. “To insist on a ceasefire is a refusal to justify the unjustifiable.”

The war between Israel and Hamas is in its fourth week. On Oct. 7, Hamas militants attacked Israel’s southern border, killing at least 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 200 people.

Since the attack, the Israel Defense Force has hit Gaza with airstrikes and a ground assault. According to Hamas officials, more than 9,000 Palestinians – including more than 3,600 children – have died since the war started three weeks ago.

Calls for a ceasefire have increased after the IDF struck a Hamas target near a refugee camp. IDF officials confirmed some refugees were killed as a result of the attack. On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved nearly $14.5 billion in aid to Israel.

The bill, however, is tied to spending cuts in order to fund the aid.

The City of Raleigh has seen protesters supporting Palestinians, calling for the end of hostilities throughout October.

Many of the protesters held up signs for congressional representatives from North Carolina to support a ceasefire, including Congresswoman Valerie Foushee.

WRAL News reached out to Foushee, who provided the following statement:

"While I was previously unaware of today's unplanned protest that took place on the NC 147 highway, I understand and recognize that our entire world is hurting over the human tragedy and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, Israel and the surrounding region. Under international law, Israel has the right to defend itself in the aftermath of Hamas' terrorist attacks. The current humanitarian crisis must be addressed urgently and I stand with the Biden Administration on ensuring clean water, food and medicine and aid is delivered to any civilian affected by this conflict."