7 Protesters Arrested For Blocking All Lanes Of Inner Loop/I-495

SILVER SPRING, MD — Maryland State Police arrested seven protesters after they closed down a section of the Capital Beltway's Inner Loop Monday morning in Montgomery County, according to a release.

Troopers from the Rockville Barrack responded around 10:30 a.m., to the Inner Loop of I-495 at Route 29, after receiving multiple phone calls reporting that a group of protestors wearing neon vests and holding signs were blocking the road.

A preliminary investigation revealed that approximately 10 people were sitting in the roadway, blocking all lanes of the Inner Loop, while other protesters walked around, holding signs, according to police.

With the help of Montgomery County Police and troopers from the College Park Barrack, troopers repeatedly ordered the protesters to leave. Police then arrested those who did not comply and transported them to the Montgomery County Detention Center for processing.

The protesters were part of Declare Emergency, which advocates for climate change, according to a report from WMAR2News.

Police charged the following people with obstructing or hindering the free passage of another in a public place or on a public conveyance and failing to obey law enforcement officer who attempts to prevent a disturbance to the public peace:

• Robert Achison, 74, of Vermont
• William Regan, 43, of Oregon
• Nora Swisher, 32, of Maryland
• Mary Osterbrink, 68, of North Carolina
• Andrew Hinz, 61, of Maryland
• Holley White, 58, of New York
• Jason Goward, 38, of Michigan

During the protest, police diverted traffic off of the Capital Beltway. Once all lanes were cleared, the Inner Loop reopened to traffic around 11:15 a.m., according to police.