10 protestors were arrested on Wednesday morning for lying down on the George Washington Bridge and blocking morning rush hour traffic.
Seven men and three women were taken into custody at around 8:30 a.m., according to Joe Pentangelo of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The eastbound lanes on the bridge’s upper level were shut down for nearly 15 minutes.
Photos from several protesters were posted on social media with the hashtag #SomosVisible. According to Gothamist.com, the group is believed to be protesting for improved “living and working conditions of low wage laundry, warehouse, and food service workers in New York City and New Jersey.”
#somosvisible just killed the George Washington bridge, in solidarity with everyone invisiblized and erased by this hellworld we live in. pic.twitter.com/EC1l7q3339
— . (@sosui140) October 26, 2016
#somosvisible being dragged out of traffic on the GWB, shouting the Assata lines. pic.twitter.com/7Y2WVLpdSo
— . (@sosui140) October 26, 2016
We're still close enough for this pic, and there's more cops than demonstrators now, because cops are trash who lose their shit over traffic pic.twitter.com/p86CZG2ENP
— . (@sosui140) October 26, 2016
Some motorists took matters into their own hands and tried to interrupt the protests.
Protestors #SOMOSVISIBLE just shut down GW Bridge into NY. VIGILANTES getting out of cars & ATTACKING protestors ALONGSIDE POLICE pic.twitter.com/oH3FU7QP28
— Millions March NYC (@MillionsMarch) October 26, 2016
You are seeing vigilantes assisting the police on the George Washington Bridge now. People demand visibility #WeAreVisible #somosvisible pic.twitter.com/jNkQV2py2s
— Occupy Theory (@occupytheory) October 26, 2016
The group appears to have stemmed from the Occupy Wall Street movement, which held large protests in downtown Manhattan several years prior.
The protesters were cleared from the scene by 8:45 a.m. and the roadway was fully reopened.
