Through rain, hail, thunder, and lightning, advocates for a ceasefire in Gaza occupied the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 for more than three hours on Saturday, shutting down traffic for five hours. Despite tension with the cops and the drivers they blocked, organizers at Jewish Voice for Peace, Samidoun Seattle, Falastiniyat, and SUPER UW, believe their demonstration achieved its goal: “No business as usual under genocide.”

About 100 protesters took over I-5 between I-90 and Mercer Street at around 1:15pm. JVP took over the University Bridge last month, so, anticipating frustration from the drivers they blocked, the organizers handed out fliers to answer frequently asked questions. 

The flier read, “We are genuinely sorry for the inconvenience this is causing you. We assume you have important places to get to and we truly apologize for the delay. We would not have taken this action if it weren’t an emergency of life or death for thousands, if not millions of people.”

The flier went on to explain the three months of carnage in Palestine. Since Oct 7, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 22,000 Palestinians, injured 57,000, displaced 1.9 million, and flattened more than 70% of the homes in Gaza. 

The flier explained that protesters felt called to to act in the belly of the beast of empire, particularly in Seattle, which is home to genocide-enablers such as Boeing, Microsoft, and Google.

In addition to apologizing, the flier also thanked the drivers. “You are contributing to a story that people of conscience all over the world will not stand idly by while others are massacred with our tax dollars,” it read.

Drivers had mixed reactions to the demonstration. One driver flashed a fist in solidarity with the protesters as they marched down Olive Way. Other drivers sat in their car, visibly bored and mildly annoyed. Others came out to yell at the organizers. 

“Shut your face and get out of our way!” One man yelled at a protester.

Another driver, begging the demonstrators to move, asked why they don’t just protest at City Hall. Well, they have. Pro-Palestinian advocates twice filled City Hall in November to ask the City Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. They also routinely protest outside Sen. Patty Murray’s office in the Federal Building downtown.  

The action also took flack from armchair protest critics online—I did not know there were so many esteemed experts in the field of political strategy! 

A video posted to social media showed an AMR ambulance stuck in traffic behind demonstrators. AMR wouldn’t confirm if their vehicle was transporting anyone. An EMT among the protesters didn’t seem worried. “There are other ambulances,” they said.

But angry drivers and tweeters seemed the least of the protesters’ worries. At 2:40 pm Real Change reporter Guy Oron tweeted that cops told protesters that they did not have the resources to arrest everyone, so the demonstration would end when they decided to leave. Shortly thereafter, police presence ramped up, as though they were preparing for mass arrest. 

Protesters and police disagree on how the demonstration ended. 

Police and the activists’ police liaisons met several times between 3 pm and 5 pm, when protesters eventually cleared I-5. On more than one occasion, organizers would report back and say that the police had not yet issued a dispersal order, which basically gives them clearance to start arresting protesters. The police unblocked the safest exit, but the protesters saddled up for the long haul.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) Twitter account posted that cops issued two dispersal orders. Protesters on I-5 did not receive these instructions from the liaisons, and police did not communicate the order to the group at large. Two days later, Washington State Patrol (WSP) confirmed in a press release that SPD tweeted “errant information” and that the cops never issued such an order. 

When the protesters left, they did so on their own volition, unaware of any Twitter-exlusive dispersal order. No one got arrested, but WSP said Monday that as their “our ongoing investigation continues, charges could very well be referred to the prosecutor’s office in due time.”

The highway siege coincided with the weekly march held by Samidoun Seattle, Falastiniyat, and SUPER UW. The weekly march changed its usual meeting spot from Westlake to the Starbucks Reserve. Though not technically on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction list, Starbucks became a target of anti-zionist boycott when the company sued its workers’ union for using its logo after the union posted in solidarity with Palestine.

After chanting outside the boarded up roastery and leaving behind some art, hundreds of protesters marched north. The protesters easily filled the Olive Way bridge, overlooking their allies occupying I-5 down below. 

When the two groups reunited, numbers easily in the thousands at their height, they continued to chant “Free, free Palestine,” over the rain and thunder. 

Seattle won’t see the last of these protesters until the US stops funding Israel’s genocide.

Hannah Krieg is a staff writer at The Stranger covering everything that goes down at Seattle City Hall. Importantly, she is a Libra. She is also The Stranger's resident Gen Z writer, with an affinity for...

66 replies on “Advocates for Ceasefire in Gaza Shutdown I-5 North for Five Hours”

  2. Hannah, are you from California? We don’t refer to our major freeway as “the I-5.” It’s just “I-5.” Do you also call our historic market “Pike’s Place?” Please just stop!

  3. @16, @21: I don’t run sockpuppets, and never have. If it makes you feel better to tell yourself you don’t have several commenters here independently debunking your nonsense, then I guess you’ll just continue to claim we’re All. One. Guy. (You’re not even the first person to make that claim against me, so originality easily evaded you, yet again.)

    Please tell us all about how blocking an ambulance on I-5 in Seattle did a goddamned thing to help anyone in Gaza, because the Stranger seems to have missed making that connection.

  5. A young couple with an infant was waiting out the traffic at my local brewery. They were out of formula and breastfeeding wasn’t an option (I couldn’t help but eavesdrop). The poor kid was hanging in there, but clearly getting hungry and upset. I’m sure there are dozens and dozens of similar stories from this protest.

  7. The “ no better politician” line isn’t MAGA idiocy. It’s Ralph Nader/Jill Stein/libertarian idiocy. And it gets Republicans elected pretty regularly. Because apparently only Dems/leftists are delusional enough to follow it and throw their votes away because someone promises unicorns and socialism. Say what you want about the pigfuckers in the GOP, but they at least can think clearly about the reality that the perfect defeats the good.

  11. Ahab dear, I would love to have a competent GOP candidate for governor, but the party simply cannot attract anyone with anything on the ball anymore. Reichart was a horrible Sheriff (although kinda dishy back then), a non-entity as a Congressman, and apparently can’t find a job in the private sector – which is a real accomplishment these days – so he’s back at the government teet.

    Eastern WA will vote for anything with an R next to it (except for maybe that black guy), but I suspect that anyone on this side of the mountains will find that the more they get to know Dave, the less they like him (except for simps like Our Dear Raindrop).

    Or who knows? Maybe he will become the next Governor, and he will be eaten alive by all the normal people in this state.

  12. Catalina @ 88:“Eastern WA will vote for anything with an R next to it (except for maybe that black guy)…” I was wondering if you’d ever have a wrong take, and there it is. Semi Bird will be the Republican nominee, voted by the same MAGA heads that put Culp up. Reichert will be named a RINO. The Trump Flavor-Aid runs deep.

  13. @85: Intentionally blocking the bridges and tunnels which connect Manhattan to the mainland is hostage-taking on a grand scale, and the NYPD responded appropriately. Hopefully SPD finds some backbone by this example.

  14. Teslick dear, you’ll notice I put a condition on that E Washington Vote. I’ve seen a lot of Bird signs over across the mountain, and even here in Seattle. Only one Reichart sign so far.

    But that Bird guy is a real mess. All military and Jesus. A black Joe Kent. I hope he gets the nomination so that we can call his supporters Birdbrains 🙂

  15. @3 the nurse, hear, hear. I, too, saw an ambulance in photos, and heard all kinds of stories – like a person with an infant who needed formula and was crying, elderly people who needed to use a bathroom – or people needing medicine or food – or sleep – or have to get to a job interview, or possibly get fired.

    I’m supportive of the protesters’ concerns about Gaza but I strongly disagree with this tactic; I think it’s dangerous, it’s violates people’s civil rights, and it’s a form of bullying and holding people hostage. It’s a major freeway, kids – with thousands of people traveling – whose lives and issues you know nothing about. You’re attacking and harassing “the working class” and showing that you do not share other people’s concerns and interests. Maybe you’re just a bunch of rich, spoiled brats? And maybe that’s why they didn’t arrest you? Someone’s Mom or Dad in high places?

    I’m appalled police didn’t give an immediate order to disperse or protesters would be (respectfully but quickly and firmly) arrested. Though I certainly do not support post-demonstration arrests. That is a violation of people’s civil rights. I think the police had their chance and blew it.

    If these protesters were “for real” and were really putting themselves on the line – get over to a weapons base or where they’re shipping them out – and where you’d really get arrested. That would impress me. But this? This is narcissistic bullshit.

    Plus you had a impressive sized group on the overpass – where you weren’t putting other people at risk – but no one noticed (I just happened to see an odd photo) because everyone had to deal with your small group of show-offs instead. So you destroyed the larger demonstration with your stupid stunt.

    And what’s further amazing – Sarah Nelson, as her first act, wants to give police a raise? When they allowed these people to do this?

    Idiot Central!

  16. Why don’t you protesters go over to Boeing or Lockheed Martin – and stop their employees from entering the building? That’s where the United States makes the bombs that they drop on civilians in Gaza !! Or do some of your wealthy parents work there ?? (The reason why the police didn’t arrest you??)

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