Nearly two dozen people arrested during demonstrations against Netanyahu’s visit in downtown Minneapolis

About 200 demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Minneapolis for nearly two hours during the evening rush hour on Wednesday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. this week. Similar protests were taking place across the country at the time.

According to organizers, police arrested 23 protesters for blocking access to Interstate 35W. The State Patrol has not yet confirmed this number.

The demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine!” and waved Palestinian flags, condemning what they saw as genocide committed by the Israeli army, which led to the armed attack on the Gaza Strip and the killing of thousands of civilians in response to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s attack on Israel.

They protested in front of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office on Washington Avenue. Some cars parked in the middle of the street to block traffic. Organizers also formed a long line of protesters that stretched across the street where southbound vehicles exit and enter 35W.

About 20 State Patrol cars arrived, blocked off the two ramps, and stood shoulder to shoulder to prevent protesters from getting onto the highway. They were joined by more than a dozen Minneapolis police officers, who made no attempt to clear Washington Avenue.

When some protesters walked under the tape set up by police, they were arrested and handcuffed with plastic. Most protesters were forced to sit on a grassy area next to the ramps.

By 7:30 p.m., the demonstrators had moved onto the sidewalk and cleared Washington Avenue. But the police kept the highway entrances and exits cordoned off with caution tape.

Sana Wazwaz, 22, of Minneapolis, a spokeswoman for the Free Palestinian Coalition, which organized the rally, said: “We call on Senator Klobuchar, who attended Netanyahu’s speech, and President Biden to hold Netanyahu accountable by demanding an end to all US aid to Israel.”

Ben Hill, a spokesman for Klobuchar, said Tuesday night that the senator believes that the long-term relationship between the United States and Israel must be respected, but she firmly believes that we need a ceasefire, the return of the hostages and, ultimately, a two-state solution.

Correction:
In an earlier version of this story, the name Sana Wazwaz was misspelled.