Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters blocked the 405 freeway in Los Angeles Sunday night while protesting the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police earlier this week.
Inglewood: Protestors have taken to the freeway. Blocking all lames of the 405 @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/Qq0F9YKMXp
— Kevin Takumi (@KevinTakumi) July 11, 2016
Both sides of the 405 freeway have been shut down by protesters now. @BLMLA #BlackLivesMatter #ManchesterShutdown pic.twitter.com/aqm9UlNTcr
— #BlackLivesMatter-LA (@BLMLA) July 11, 2016
According to NBC Los Angeles, the protesters gathered at the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and Inglewood Avenue before shutting down nearly all lanes of the 405 freeway, a frequently used spur of Interstate 5.
Actor Kendrick Sampson, best known for playing Caleb Hapstall on the popular Shonda Rhimes show “How to Get Away with Murder,” joined the protesters and tweeted and retweeted several live videos from the freeway occupation:
#BlackLivesMatter on the 405 Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/OeEZWIE9VC
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) July 11, 2016
#NoJusticeNoPeace @blmla pic.twitter.com/mSaWuTqx2t
— Matt McGorry (@MattMcGorry) July 11, 2016
We shutdown the 405 freeway pic.twitter.com/ZcPlZZB33B
— ¢tae (@taewest) July 11, 2016
The freeway occupation appeared to be unplanned, as the event began as a community meeting in Inglewood to have a dialogue related to the fatal police shootings of Sterling and Castile caught on video, which have created widespread national outrage and ignited protests in multiple major cities and states.
After the meeting, the crowd spilled into the streets and morphed into a rally, followed by a march to Randy’s Donuts — an iconic Inglewood location. The owner of Randy’s Donuts told local media that protesters allowed customers to enter and leave the establishment and that they didn’t interfere with business.
Peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protesters form Peace sign at intersection in Inglewood. Powerful. pic.twitter.com/tuv0oBj8h0
— Derek #OurRevolution (@DerekNoahLong) July 11, 2016
#Inglewood protestors form a peace sign in the middle of Manchester x La Cienega @FOXLA @Inglewood_PD @CHPsouthern pic.twitter.com/QtPeGn0Ft4
— CreateLex (@CreateLex) July 11, 2016
As of this writing, no arrests have been made.
This is a developing story, and updates will be added as new details emerge.
Tom Cahill is a writer for US Uncut based in the Pacific Northwest. He specializes in coverage of political, economic, and environmental news. You can contact him via email at tom.v.cahill@gmail.com.
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