Anti-Israel groups facing class action lawsuit for organizing traffic blockade

A group of anti-Israel organizations that caused a traffic jam in Washington D.C. by blocking major roadways last year is facing a class action lawsuit filed by the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute. The lawsuit, which represents Daniel Faoro, a traveler trapped in the traffic jam, targets several left-wing groups that participated in the disruptive protest.

On February 1, 2024, activists from groups like Jewish Voice for Peace, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and the Westchester Political Action Committee Foundation, along with others, obstructed access to key roads in D.C. for nearly an hour. During the protest, 23 anti-Israel activists were arrested for offenses like crowding, obstructing, or resisting arrest. The activists used chains, PVC pipes, and formed human chains to physically block the roads, displaying signs with slogans such as “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Must be Free” and chanting phrases like “We Don’t Want No Jewish State.”

The traffic jam caused by the demonstration inconvenienced thousands of commuters, including Faoro, who were delayed on their way to work, school, appointments, and various events. The lawsuit filed by the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute emphasizes the disruption caused by the protesters, highlighting that many commuters caught in the traffic jam had no connection to the Israel-Palestine conflict or any opinion on the matter. This action by the anti-Israel groups was deemed as “lawlessness” and a violation of the freedom of movement of innocent individuals.

The president of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, Anna St. John, stressed that blocking roads is not a form of free speech but a disruptive and unlawful act. The lawsuit aims to hold the activists accountable for their actions and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The lawsuit targets not only the activist groups involved in the protest but also specific individuals, including Dornethia “Nee Nee” Taylor, Brian Becker, and Hannah Shraim, associated with the groups Party of Socialism and Liberation and Maryland2Palestine.

In conclusion, the class action lawsuit filed by the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute seeks to address the disruptive behavior of anti-Israel activists who caused the traffic blockade in Washington D.C. The legal action aims to bring accountability to those who disrupt daily life through intimidation and obstruction with the hope of preventing such actions from happening again.