Racial-Justice Demonstrators Block Morning Rush-Hour Traffic; Four Arrested

Four people were arrested after a relatively small group of demonstrators on Monday blocked morning rush-hour traffic in the 4100 block of Chain Bridge Road, citing grievances against the criminal justice system.

According to the Fairfax City crime report, "the protesters were given three warnings to clear the roadway," after which they were arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing traffic and later released on $1,000 unsecured bonds.

The Washington Post reported that the 30-minute protest was part of a six-city coordination by a group called Showing Up for Racial Justice, "a national network of organizations that on Monday staged rallies by white activists calling for racial justice."

According to the police report, those arrested were from the District, Fairfax and two from Manassas.

In this case, they were protesting the 2015 stun-gun death of Natasha McKenna while in custody at the Fairfax County jail. Six officers were involved, and the group wants them fired.

Investigators in the case ruled in September that no one was responsible for McKenna's death and that it “was a tragic accident," according to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fairfax County.