West Side Highway Shut Down By Climate Protesters

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Climate protesters simultaneously shut down portions of the West Side Highway and FDR Drive on Monday morning, halting traffic on the busy roadways to bring attention to the cause.

The blockages began before 9 a.m., with the NYPD advising drivers at 8:43 a.m. that the southbound West Side Highway was blocked at West 34th Street. The FDR, meanwhile, had all northbound lanes blocked at Houston Street.

The West Side protest was organized by a coalition of groups including the Sunrise Movement, Extinction Rebellion and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, who were calling on President Joe Biden to keep green energy programs in the upcoming infrastructure bill.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. We shut down the West Side Highway this morning with @XR_NYC, @FFF_NYC_, and @JFREJNYC to demand @POTUS do everything he can to keep climate in Build Back Better. Biden leads or we drown pic.twitter.com/MPHQdnyKrl
— Sunrise NYC (@sunrisemvmtnyc) October 25, 2021

At least three protesters were arrested, one of the groups said. Police at the scene watched as protesters linked arms across the highway, while loudspeaker messages advised them that they ewre "illegally occupying the crosswalk," witness Jeffrey LeFrancois tweeted.

By 9:54 a.m., the West Side Highway had reopened, according to a city alert.

PD arrested 2 people while I was there, and ready for more. They also had a weird, cryptic recording playing, claiming that protesters were “illegally occupying the roadway.” Which is odd given they were even in the crosswalk! For the @NYPDnews it’s all about the cars. pic.twitter.com/Gq3BAljHLM
— Jeffrey LeFrancois (@jlef423) October 25, 2021