Eight people were arrested after a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the Lowry Hill Tunnel during Monday night's rush hour.
It started around 4:30 p.m. with a report of groups gathering on a pedestrian bridge near the tunnel.
While troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol responded, several vehicles began blocking the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94, with other vehicles intentionally getting in the way of law enforcement response.
The protestors face a number of charges including obstructing traffic, fleeing in a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm without a permit.
Three were cited for impeding traffic.
Eight vehicles and three trailers were towed.
Arrests:
• Five adult males booked into the Hennepin County Jail for obstructing the legal process/impeding traffic.
• One adult male booked into the Hennepin County Jail for fleeing in a motor vehicle.
• One adult female booked into the Hennepin County Jail for possession of a firearm without a permit.
• One juvenile male booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center for fleeing in a motor vehicle.
Citations:
• One juvenile male for impeding traffic.
• One adult male for impeding traffic.
The Minnesota State Patrol released this statement on Facebook:
We support the right to exercise one’s First Amendment rights, but the freeway is not the place to do so. The closure of an interstate freeway for the purposes of a demonstration is unacceptable. Freeways 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 everyone involved or impacted.
