Two Involved in Highway Protest Arrested in Braintree

Update, 1:33 p.m. - The names of the two men arrested in Braintree have been added.

Two people allegedly involved in a protest on Route 93 were arrested in Braintree on Thursday.

William Connolly, 26, of Hanson and Brett West, 26, of Boston, were taken into custody as they attempted to return a rental truck in Braintree that was used to transport the barrels and the protestors to the scene in Milton.

Connolly was charged with trespassing, throwing Glass on a public way, willfully obstructing an emergency vehicle, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and throwing an object on a public way. West was charged with trespassing, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, throwing glass on a public way, willfully obstructing an emergency vehicle, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and throwing an object on a public way.

Both men pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court on Thursday afternoon.

Traffic came to a halt on Route 93 North in Milton on Thursday morning after protesters gained access to the highway. After reaching the highway, the protesters placed several 55 gallon barrels filled with concrete and other debris across the travel lanes according to police. The protesters then formed a human chain across the roadway attaching themselves to each other by passing their arms through an interlocking device and chaining themselves to the inside of the barrels. The protest caused traffic to come to a near halt on the section of Route 93 that runs from Braintree to Milton.

Overall, 11 people were arraigned at Quincy District Court on multiple charges related to the protest.