More than 150 Arrested in Overnight California Protests
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iStock/Thinkstock(BERKELEY, Calif.) — More than 150 people were arrested overnight in California as demonstrators blocked traffic on Interstate 80 while protesting the recent decisions not to indict police officers in the killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City.
Approximately 1,500 protesters hit the streets of downtown Berkeley Monday night, and began marching west on University Avenue, with the demonstration initially remaining mostly peaceful, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officials said around 8 p.m. a small group of protesters managed to get onto I-80, disrupting traffic for a few minutes before being removed by officers. However, a short time later, a larger group of protesters allegedly destroyed perimeter fencing and got onto the freeway, bringing traffic to a halt in both directions.
According to authorities, that’s when things shifted from being peaceful.
“As officers attempted to stop the crowd and clear the freeway, the protesters became violent, and on several occasions assaulted CHP personnel with rocks and other objects,” the CHP said in the release.
More than 150 people were taken into custody on various charges.
The protesters were eventually removed from the roadway, and it was reopened around 10 p.m.
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