Chicago

blue

A guide to fun things to do in Chicago this weekend.

Axios Chicago Weekender

Weekender

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Chicago with Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann, and Carrie Shepherd.

Axios Chicago

Standard

Chicago Alerts

Alert

Axios Chicago Partners

Axios Chicago Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Chicago Members

Membership

Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia

Cleveland

Axios Cleveland

Protests over the war in Gaza have ramped up this week in Chicago and around the country.

Why it matters: Demonstrations are becoming more disruptive as calls for a ceasefire prompt no official action.

Driving the news: Protesters blocked traffic near O'Hare Airport on Monday — part of a global "economic blockade to free Palestine."

O'Hare travelers were either turned away or had to walk I-190 to make their flights. Chicago police say 40 protesters were arrested. Charges are pending, as of Monday afternoon.

The Chicago protest also included calls for students to skip school.

The big picture: Disruptive protests have popped up all over the country in recent months.

In San Francisco, protesters blocked the Golden Gate Bridge during Monday's early morning commute hours and another major highway, I-880, in the East Bay.

The traffic delays come months after protestors blocked all lanes on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge calling for a Gaza ceasefire in November.

In Philadelphia, dozens of protesters were arrested Monday as they blocked traffic downtown as part of coordinated demonstrations over the war in Gaza, per the Inquirer.

In Tampa, Florida, around 50 protesters blocked traffic from the highway into downtown for about 15 minutes.

In Michigan, protesters took over a Starbucks in Ann Arbor on Monday.

Last November, protestors blocked I-94, a major highway in Dearborn, where the "uncommitted" effort defeated President Biden in the Democratic Primary this year. 

And in Cleveland, a caravan of protesters blocked multiple highway ramps leading to Hopkins International Airport on a Saturday in March.

Activists appeared at Cleveland City Hall weekly from October through March, pressuring the City Council to sign a ceasefire resolution.

Gaza protests ramp up disruption in Chicago and nationwide

Protesters blocked traffic near O'Hare Airport on Monday — part of a global "economic blockade to free Palestine."

Protesters carrying Palestinian flags in front of City Hall with cars in the street.

Crowds of thousands with the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine march through downtown streets to demand a ceasefire and calling U.S. to stop aiding to Israel on Oct. 28, 2023. Photo: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Gaza

Protests over the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="war in Gaza" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" data-vars-content-id="bf184e3c-e9ab-4920-aea1-2dfcecc93fef" data-vars-headline="Gaza protests ramp up disruption in Chicago and nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_self">war in Gaza</a> have ramped up this week in Chicago and around the country.Why it matters: Demonstrations are becoming more disruptive as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="calls for a ceasefire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/04/11/dnc-protesters-chicago-ceasefire-mayor-johnson" data-vars-content-id="bf184e3c-e9ab-4920-aea1-2dfcecc93fef" data-vars-headline="Gaza protests ramp up disruption in Chicago and nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/04/11/dnc-protesters-chicago-ceasefire-mayor-johnson" target="_self">calls for a ceasefire</a> prompt no official action.

News

Axios San Francisco

San Francisco voter guide to the 2024 general election

San Francisco

Axios AI+

OpenAI is facing an executive exodus

Bay FC set to build practice facilities on Treasure Island

Axios Finish Line

San Francisco's fatal overdoses decline over past year

SF unveils its first public monument honoring a Black woman

topics

politics-policy

epstein-files

donald-trump

2026-midterm-elections

immigration

behind-the-curtain

race-and-equity

technology

privacy-tech-regulation

automation-and-ai

tiktok-news

big-tech

social-media

cybersecurity

economy

social-security

inflation

tariffs

federal-reserve

jobs

transportation

business

stock-market-news

retail-news

crypto

media

elon-musk

dealmaking

health

rfk-jr

drug-prices

axios-explains-abortion

public-health

world

israel

axios-explains-ukraine

iran

russia

china

energy-climate

nuclear-energy

climate-energy-policy

climate-change

extreme-weather

alternative-energy

electric-vehicles

science

emerging-tech

biomedicine

newsletters

charlotte

boulder

detroit

kansas-city

columbus

austin

dallas

atlanta

washington-dc

nw-arkansas

chicago

indianapolis

nashville

richmond

colorado-springs

houston

san-francisco

seattle

boston

des-moines

salt-lake-city

philadelphia

denver

phoenix

new-orleans

miami

twin-cities

raleigh

san-antonio

portland

san-diego

tampa-bay

cleveland

huntsville

pittsburgh

axios-local

axios-pro

axios-live

the-axios-show

Megan Rose Dickey

Featured stories

San Francisco voter guide to the 2024 general election

OpenAI is facing an executive exodus

Bay FC set to build practice facilities on Treasure Island

San Francisco's fatal overdoses decline over past year

SF unveils its first public monument honoring a Black woman