Protesters gathered with placards supporting Palestine as inbound traffic to Chicago O’Hare International Airport was cut off Monday morning as part of a multi-city “economic blockade” in opposition to the Gaza war.
The airport announced the delay on X (formerly known as Twitter) and urged travelers to consider alternative transportation options, including the CTA Blue Line.
The post said protests on Interstate 190 could cause significant delays for incoming traffic. Protesters also reportedly blocked roads in Oakland, California, and San Antonio, Texas.
The Chicago Department of Aviation announced around 9:25 a.m. that inbound traffic to O’Hare had resumed. The airport’s X account warned travelers to allow extra time to get to the airport.
Vehicle travel to O’Hare may be significantly delayed this morning due to protests on Interstate 190. Departing passengers are encouraged to consider alternative transportation to the airport. @cta blue line. Additional updates will also be provided. pic.twitter.com/A8wqNH3zQ6
— O’Hare International Airport (@fly2oare) April 15, 2024
Ann A previous alert from Total Traffic said all outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway between Bessie Coleman Drive and O’Hare were closed starting around 8:23 a.m.
Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement Monday about the protests.
“I support the idea that people should express their First Amendment rights and protest if they wish,” Pritzker said. “I don’t think we should be obstructing the traffic of people trying to get from one place to another…Law enforcement should make sure those side streets and highways are open to people and still protests must be respected.”
According to a website designed for the April 15 protest, the action aimed to “identify and block off key chokepoints in the economy, focusing on points of production and distribution.”
Videos posted on social media showed travelers walking along the side of the highway toward the airport.
