Tel Aviv: Activists threaten to jump from overpass
Eight protesters threaten with suicide while others block traffic in call for social change; none injured
Eight activists threatened to jump off a pedestrian bridge in Tel Aviv on Wednesday while their peers blocked traffic on the road bellow in an attempt to call for social change.
The group gathered on the overpass connecting the two buildings that comprise Dizengoff Center, a shopping mall in the center of the city, around 5:30 pm. They dispersed leaflets and threatened to jump.
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Meanwhile, several other activists staged a lie-in on the road bellow, blocking traffic. Four of them were arrested. Later in the evening the protesters wielded a massive sign saying "love revolution."
Large police forces arrived in the region to negotiate with the youths and install a mattress below the overpass. The activists agreed to come down from the bridge shortly before 8 pm, and were immediately arrested.
The protesters (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
The police said that the protest was unauthorized and expressed intention to sue the activists for the expenses caused by the event.
Call to action
The flyers that were thrown down to passersby expressed angst and a heartfelt plea for social change.
Staging a lie-in (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
"Do you know the feeling when you're on the edge of an abyss, the feeling that you have reached the end? This is how we feel," the leaflets read. "Life has so much potential, things could be better for all of us, if only we would learn to live together and respect each other.
"But instead, look at what we've done? Instead of living like one human family, we've built walls between us. Instead of giving we take from each other. We're stressed, trying to survive, (living) at an unhealthy pace that causes depression.
The flyer (Photo: Aviv Mizrahi)
"Does anyone care??? We care. We care a lot. We haven't found any other way to reach you hearts… We apologize if someone's feelings were hurt by us and this extreme act. And please don't hate us because our intentions are pure. Most people will watch television tonight after everything is over. Tomorrow will see business as usual.
"We are resigning ourselves to this fate like it isn't our responsibility to change it. There is no way that this life was meant to be war, and mortgage, and pension and money. Something feels very wrong, and we're sick of obeying it blindly."
The statement concluded with a call to action: "If it stirs anything within you, you should show that you care. Sound a loud voice. Right now we're rushing towards moral, ecological, financial and security devastation."
Gilad Morag contributed to the report
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