Massachusetts State Police Colonel Superintendent Tim Alben shared details about the Thursday morning protests – which blocked north and southbound traffic along I-93 in and out of Boston – at an 11:45 a.m. press conference.

Related: All I-93 Lanes Impacted by Morning Protests Re-opened [Update]

Alben told reporters state police arrested a total of 29 people – 18 in Medford and 11 in Milton – involved in blocking I-93 traffic, causing severe highway delays during morning rush hour in and out of Boston.

State police received a call at 7:30 a.m. from a citizen reporting a box truck along I-93 in Milton had stopped and had begun unloading a group of people and large white barrels. Alben said six people got of the truck attached to 55-gallon barrels; three others exited the truck to observe traffic; and two others stayed with the rented truck. All 11 were arrested.

 

At 7:40 a.m., state police received a report that a separate group of protesters had formed a human chain across I-93 lanes of traffic in Medford. Alben said protesters used “sleeping dragons”– solid pipes – to link themselves together at the arms. Eighteen protesters were arrested at the scene.

The nearly 30 protesters involved in Thursday morning’s Black Lives Matter protest have district court arraignments scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Alben scolded the protesters for failing to recognize “potentially catastrophic” problems that could occur when heavy numbers of police, fire department and emergency medical services have to respond to such public disturbances.

 

Police and firefighters had to use chainsaws to free unwilling protesters from 55-gallon barrels. “Indeed, it was a challenge,” Alben said.

Alben went on to say that state police recognize protesters’ First Amendment rights, but Thursday morning demonstrations were “immature,” “reckless” and “irresponsible.”

“This kind of conduct is risking people’s lives,” Alben said.

The 29 arrested protesters face trespassing, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest charges.

According to a release, the protest was staged to “disrupt business as usual” and protest police and state violence against Black people.

Lanes were re-opened at around 10 a.m. No injuries have been reported.

None were injured in the #BlackLivesMatter coordinated event.
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