Over the weekend, Black Lives Matter protests shut down several major highways across the nation and there’s a recurring scene in almost every one — semi trucks unwillingly taken hostage as a prop for protesters.
As protesters took their cause to march, severe traffic was a concern to all those on the road. But truck drivers faced a more serious problem when demonstrators stampeded their big rigs.
On Thursday night, in Oakland, California, thousands of people gathered to march downtown. The protesters continued their demonstration onto I-880, which shut down the freeway for several hours. Oakland police stated that around 1,000 people marched down the freeway, while others remained on city streets. Those stuck in traffic had no choice but to wait out the scene.
Semis were used as platforms as protestors climbed on top.
Seven people were arrested during the Oakland protest.
The demonstrations took a familiar turn in Atlanta, Georgia. According to police, protesters broke through Atlanta police and Georgia State Patrol barricades and blocked the downtown connector late Thursday night. Large vehicles were left with nowhere to turn. Hundreds gathered to protest.
Protestors took over the streets and held a semi truck hostage in Atlanta.
Georgia State Police stated that anyone on the connector not in a car would be arrested.
The demonstrations continued throughout the nation. On Sunday, in Memphis, Tennessee, a group marched across the city and traveled onto the I-40 bridge in protest. It began as a peaceful rally of hundreds of people, but similar to the other protests, caused bystanders to be trapped inside their vehicles.
Traffic came to a halt as the bridge was closed for hours.
More truck drivers were put into danger and demonstrations continued.
While no truck drivers were physically harmed during the protests this weekend, the images reminded many drivers of the 1992 beating of truck driver Reginald Denny, who was brutally attacked during the Rodney King riots.
Denny was attacked after stopping for protestors.
Sad but true, the men and woman who are supplying the nation with needed goods are becoming unwillingly trapped into these rallies. Although protesting can be justifiable, it must remain peaceful. When one protests violence with further violence, the point is lost.