Black Lives Matter Protesters Block I-93 During Boston's Morning Rush Hour

Photo credit: Massachusetts State Police.

By John Waller and Liz Taurasi

Boston’s morning rush hour came to a standstill Thursday, as Black Lives Matter protesters blocked all inbound lanes of Interstate 93 north and south of the city.

Between the two locations, 29 individuals were arrested, Timothy Alben, colonel superintendent of Massachusetts State Police, said in a Thursday press conference.

At 7:30 a.m., a white box truck unloaded nine protesters on I-93 North south of the city in Milton. Six of the protesters then chained their hands together inside 1,200-pound barrels filled with cement, while three stood nearby, Alben said. Two people in the box truck were arrested as well, for a total of 11 arrests at that location.

Ten minutes later, 18 protesters chained themselves together on I-93 South north of the city in Medford, according to Alben.

Some of the protesters were wearing adult diapers, police said.

The protesters are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Alben said disorderly conduct, trespassing and some resisting arrest charges are likely.

Police were able to clear the interstate in Medford in roughly 45 minutes – however, it took police over two hours to clear the interstate in Milton because of the barrels.

An Easton ambulance transporting a car-crash victim with life-threatening injuries to a Level 1 trauma center in Boston had to be diverted to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton because of the backup, according to Alben.

Alben said he supports First-Amendment rights but called Thursday’s protests “immature,” “irresponsible” and “short-sighted.”

“This kind of conduct is risking people’s lives,” he said.

The Black Lives Matter Boston Facebook group posted a press release on the protests. The release includes quotes from nine of the protesters.

“Today, our nonviolent direct action is meant to expose the reality that Boston is a city where white commuters and students use the city and leave, while Black and Brown communities are targeted by police, exploited, and displaced,” protester Katie Seitz is quoted in the release.

Do you support Thursday’s protests? Let us know in the comments below.