Cars Flood Streets Over Forced Expulsions, Attacks In Jerusalem

PALOS, IL — Hundreds of cars rallied behind one another, forming a car caravan in the Village of Worth Tuesday, to protest the recent expulsions of Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem.

Al Jazeera News reports that over the past few days there have been a number of sit-ins and protests by Palestinians over the expulsions. Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories have also seen some of the worst violence in years.

In the Gaza Strip, dozens of Palestinians have been killed as Israel continues to bomb the territory, according to Al Jazeera. The Gaza bombings come in retaliation for rockets fired at Israel from the Strip. Before the rocket fire, some Palestinians groups had warned that continued Israeli violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem would lead to a harsh response.

The Associated Press reports that three women in Israel were killed by rocket fire, with dozens of people wounded, while the death toll in Gaza rose to 32 Palestinians, including 10 children, according to the Health Ministry. Altogether, over 200 people were wounded, AP reports.

At 4 p.m., protestors from towns including Worth, Bridgeview, Palos and other south suburban communities lined up in a parking lot located just west of 115th Street and Harlem Avenue. Cars revved their engines while waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”

The caravan line drove from 115th Street down to 87th Street and Harlem Avenue, then back. Worth Police told Patch there was no permit for the event, even though organizers had received permits in the past for similar protests. Officers directed traffic, while cars poured onto Harlem Avenue, one by one.

Areej Barghouthi, one of the event's organizers, spoke with Patch prior to the start of the caravan. She said the whole point of the caravan is to raise awareness on the growing attacks in Jerusalem.

“We are here, and we're standing next to our brothers in Jerusalem and Sheikh Jarrah, and of course in Gaza, especially with what's going on right now,” Barghouthi said. “We want the world to know that we are Palestinian, and we are here. Even though there is space between us and our brothers and sisters in Palestine and Gaza right now, we want them to know we are here, by their sides.”

After 6 p.m., cars were seen completely stopping traffic on Harlem Avenue, just after 99th street — right before the entrance to the Village of Bridgeview. A Facebook live of the traffic can be seen below.