The Minnesota State Patrol arrested 41 people after protesters crossed the line with their demonstration.
It started early Wednesday morning when a group began marching on the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis. The protestors parked four cars along the Interstate.
They stopped in the southbound lanes, held hands and chanted.
Oncoming traffic was forced to stop on their morning commute and traffic was backed up for at least 5 miles on the Interstate. University Avenue was also affected as police utilized it for traffic diversion.
Patrol cars and tow trucks surrounded the area, ready to clear the interstate.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene and warned the group that they would be arrested.
By 8:30 a.m., protesters were arrested, one by one.
The protesters were taken into custody for endangering the motoring public.
The non-affiliated group calls itself a “non-black ally of Black Lives Matter.”
They say that they were protesting the July 6th shooting of Philando Castille. According to ABC 5, the group stated that its purpose was “to disrupt business as usual” until “changes come.” The protestors say they hope to disarm, disband, and dis-fund police in response to the recent shootings of black civilians.
Col. Matt Langer, Minnesota State Patrol chief stated, “The State Patrol supports the right to exercise one’s First Amendment rights, but the freeway is not the place to do so.”
He continued,
“The closure of an interstate freeway for the purposes of a demonstration is unacceptable. They are used by everyone and are an artery for emergency vehicles. It is illegal to walk on the freeway and blocking traffic is dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists.”
Buses were used to haul the protestors away, and tow trucks removed the parked vehicles. By 9:30 a.m., the southbound lanes were reopened. Traffic is now moving normally.