Protesters Blocked Access to Downtown Baltimore City

A group protesting the construction of a new jail for juveniles in Baltimore City blocked major arteries into the city’s downtown Tuesday morning.

By 8:30 a.m., the ramps to I-395 were closed to incoming traffic from both northbound and southbound Interstate 95.

Key Highway and Hanover Street, which are alternate routes, were jammed after 9:20 a.m., according to WNEW.

At 9:45 a.m., Baltimore Police reported the peaceful protest was on Martin Luther King Boulevard in the area of Washington Boulevard, and the Maryland Transportation Authority said the exits to I-395 had reopened.

Demonstrators on foot were reportedly taking a stand against the millions of dollars that Gov. Larry Hogan allocated earlier this month to construct a juvenile jail in Baltimore City, where young offenders are often kept in adult facilities without access to school and support services.

The juvenile detention facility will cost $30 million and include 60 beds, The Baltimore Sun reported.

“You mad?? We ain’t going no and neither is traffic until governor moves juvenile jail off budget!” tweeted Pastor Jamal Bryant of Empowerment Temple, who planned the demonstration.

At 10 a.m., Baltimore Police reported the protesters were dispersing.