Dramatic footage shows the moment pro-Palestine protesters sparked chaos by running through the streets outside the entrance of the Los Angeles International Airport.
An unlawful assembly was declared by authorities on Wednesday over the demonstration amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
At least 35 demonstrators have been arrested so far, while a further 26 have been cuffed during a similar protest at JFK in New York.
The protest in California took a turn when the police got involved at around 9.30am as demonstrators tried to block the roadway with cement blocks and other objects, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports.
The protesters took off running in different directions as officers moved in, with some arrested.
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The group were carrying signs with messages that included “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire is not enough.”
Traffic in the area heavy in the area and the Los Angeles Police Department was on tactical alert for around an hour.
The LAX protest was dispersed by 10.30am as officers took the protesters that remained into custody at the intersection of Manchester Avenue and Sepulveda Blvd.
Some protesters were cited and released for rioting, and at least one was arrested for battery on a police officer, authorities said.
LAX officials confirmed that no flights had been impacted by the demonstration.
Meanwhile, in New York, activists brought traffic to a standstill on the expressway leading up to JFK International Airport for about 20 minutes, demanding an end to the conflict in Gaza and more rights for Palestinians.
Twenty six people were arrested on the roadway, Steve Burns, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.
Burns said the agency also provided two buses “offering rides to travelers involved in the backup to allow them to reach the airport safely.”
Some travelers were forced to exit their cars and try to walk around the protesters to enter the airport.
The road was reopened after the protest was cleared.
