Ohio University Professor Thomas Hayes blocked traffic Wednesday in support of Palestine on the corner of Court St. and Union St.

By: Henry Jost and Madeline Harden

Ohio University Professor Thomas Hayes blocked traffic on the corner of Court St. and Union St. for under an hour in support of Palestine; he was stopped by Athens City Police.  

Athens City Police Lt. Simpson said Hayes was free to speak his mind but he was not allowed to block traffic. Hayes was not arrested or issued a ticket by police. 

“I went out there to get arrested,” Hayes said. 

Hayes noted his reasoning for protesting today following the United States’ veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution seeking a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants.

“The last straw was the veto of the ceasefire resolution at the UN. That was it,” Hayes said.

“The treatment of these people for the last 75 years is absolutely unacceptable, and the United States enables this through $3.8 billion a year through the best arms on the planet,” Hayes said.

Hayes, an award-winning documentarian, has worked on three long-form documentaries that have focused on Palestinian refugee camps. Hayes is an Ohio U alumni and current professor in film.

“I saw the daughter of a woman who protected my life on Al Jazeera this morning in Gaza terrified. This is unacceptable. The world has got to put a stop to it,” Hayes said.  

Hayes shared that he felt his freedom of speech was protected by Athens City Police. 

“They were so tolerant. I was out there for half an hour,” Hayes said in response to Athens City Police letting him off with a warning. 

Hayes' protest comes in the wake of President Biden's trip to the Middle East, where Biden emphasized the United States' support for Israel.