65 Protestors Arrested Near Art Festival After Blocking Baltimore Expressway
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- We know more about the arrests made during a protest Saturday night.
Marcus Washington reports those arrests came after demonstrators blocked a portion of the Jones Falls Expressway as they stood with locked arms.
It was a night of protest that ended with dozens of arrests. The demonstration was led by the group Afromation.
"Black and brown communities are being underfunded and undercut and underprivileged. All of the money that could go to these communities are being sent to militarize police," said protester David Blair.
The group set out for a peaceful protest starting at Mt. Royal near Artscape and ending on I-83. Pictures show many of them with locked arms, blocking the road near the Charles Street ramp.
"I'd say it had to be probably 40, 50 people, probably more than that, because there were people behind, holding up signs and things like that," said a protester named Brian.
WJZ has learned there were a total of 65 arrests. Ten of those were juveniles.
Protesters say they have no regrets.
"We are willing to do what it takes to make sure that people understand that we are serious about our message. We are not trying to be violent but when it comes to disrupting spaces that people find are safe spaces, we're willing to disrupt those so people can hear our pain, hear our hurt," Blair said.
Those arrested were issued a citation for failure to obey and illegally walking on a highway. They have all been released from police custody.
