Some Interstate 80 ramps in Berkeley were closed at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday after police called the California Highway Patrol for support. Ramps were reopened and most of the crowd had dispersed by about 9:30 p.m., CHP Officer Erika Winfield said.

Several hundred people gathered and carried signs that read, "Palestinian Statehood Now."

"Many students were very outraged about U.S. policy in Israel and Palestine and wanted to walk onto the freeway as part of a peaceful protest," said activist Penny Rosenwasser, who said protesters with locked arms were stopped by police.

She estimated at least 500 activists took part in the protest.

Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press