8 Protesters Arrested For Blocking Hwy 101 Exit To SFO
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A group of Black Lives Matter protesters were arrested after shutting down an exit ramp for southbound U.S. Highway 101 to San Francisco International Airport Wednesday afternoon, a California Highway Patrol sergeant said.
KPIX 5 first heard reports of traffic stopping on the freeway when viewer Amanda Kaldenbaugh sent a photo showing drivers outside of their cars on the approach to the San Francisco International Airport freeway exit at around 12:20 p.m.
CHP Sgt. Mike Wright said eight women blocked the off-ramp to the airport at about 12:15 p.m. and were quickly arrested.
The protesters posted photos of the action on Twitter, showing them linked hand-in-hand across the highway with a Christmas tree and a banner that said, "Justice for Mario Woods," the man killed by San Francisco police officers in the city's Bayview District earlier this month.
In the wake of the officer-involved shooting, the family has filed a civil rights suit and activists have called for the firing of SFPD Chief Greg Suhr and a full investigation into the incident.
The group also tweeted out that several protesters had been taken into custody and asked for lawyers and bail support. After the arrests traffic into the airport went back to normal after some residual delays.
At about the same time, California Highway Patrol Capt. Christopher Sherry wrote on Twitter, "CHP has moved all protestors off of the freeway. Travelers will make it to the airport on-time!"
Wright said the protesters were taken to San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of public nuisance, obstructing the freeway, unlawful assembly on a freeway and false imprisonment for imprisoning stuck drivers in their cars.
The protest was part of a "Black Xmas" day of action. A similar protest was held at the Mall of America in Minneapolis before moving to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where activists blocked roads.
Airport officials said access to one of two terminals has been blocked by protesters, causing significant traffic backups on nearby roads. Some protesters took a light-rail train to the airport after the mall was closed by police.
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