Protesters Arrested After Blocking Highway

[Onthemark]

Authorities in Boston, Massachusetts say at least 30 arrests were made Thursday morning during two protests against recent killings and brutality by U.S. police.

The protesters blocked traffic in Somerville, just north of Boston. Police say at the same time other protesters blocked the road just south of the city. Authorities say they chained themselves to concrete barrels that were situated on the street.

"Our nonviolent direct action is meant to expose the reality that Boston is a city where white commuters and students use the city and leave, while black and brown communities are targeted by police, exploited and displaced," organizer Katie Seitz stated.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said the incident put the public, emergency personnel, and the protesters themselves in danger. "There are ways to demonstrate in a peaceful manner," Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said.

Police said the demonstrators blocked an ambulance transporting a crash victim with life-threatening injuries to the trauma center located in Boston. Instead they had to go to a smaller hospital outside the city.

"Numerous other ambulances had to be on scene while we cut protesters out of restraints, meaning they were not available if needed elsewhere," officials said.

The demonstrators said their intention was "to confront white complacency in the systemic oppression of black people in Boston."

Governor Charlie Baker issued a statement; part of it read "endangering drivers and impeding access to medical facilities" is not the best way to protest.

Authorities say the protesters will be arraigned later Thursday.

[video=youtube_share;pVisQlfTME8]http://youtu.be/pVisQlfTME8[/video]

 

[jeremy2]

Though the protesters had every right to hold demos,they should at least have taken consideration of other resident who use that busy road.Their reasons for holding protests were legit but they should have followed the proper channels to air their grievances.

 

[westmixxin]

That guy looks incredibly weird it's amazing that he was capable of blocking the road for that long. I'm surprised they didn't arrest him a long time ago he definitely looks like an incredibly lonely individual. He probably had a lot of time on his hands to be doing something like this and decided that he was going to get himself some type of attention.

 

[katherine25]

I agree, everyone has the right to protest and hold a demonstration but they really should have some consideration for other people. Do what you need to do, chant, march, yell, whatever just don't get in the way of others.