Seattle Traffic Snarled For Hours By Downtown Youth Jail Protest

SEATTLE, WA – Things are returning to normal. A protest that started just after 8 a.m. on Friday and snarled traffic throughout downtown, finally ended about six hours later.

More than 50 people – upset with new King County youth jail and courts – started their protest outside the office of King County Executive Dow Constantine.

They wanted to let him know that object to the new $210 million complex going up at 12th and Alder.

While the county says the facility is desperately needed, the activists say that a county analysis says the current jail, which is only 25-years-old, is still in good shape

The protesters arrived around 8:300 a.m. and sat down in the street by 4th Avenue and James Street.

Many of them chained their arms together and blocked traffic. It had the ripple effect of clogging traffic on I-5 and I-90.

After about two hours, they started marching through downtown, creating more traffic.

The march seemed to follow Constantine as left his office to join Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) at an appearance.

By 2:30 p.m., the crowds had dispersed though police are wactching to see if it starts again.

Photos via Seattle Department of Transportation and No New Youth Jail.