Jewish groups calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war block traffic in the Loop

A group of jewish lead pro-Palestinian protesters lock arms and block the S. Clark St. and Ida B. Wells intersection, demanding a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

Members of Chicago’s Jewish community calling for a cease-fire in Gaza blocked rush hour traffic in the Loop during a protest Monday evening.

Dozens of protesters linked arms and shut down the Intersection of Ida B. Wells Drive and Clark Street around 4:30 p.m., singing “free Gaza now” and “not in our name.” Traffic was blocked for over an hour before police began clearing the demonstrators.