Luis Sinco/LA Times
The California Highway Patrol and local allied agencies, such as the Los Angeles Police Department, were inundated with calls for service on the evening of Nov. 9, 2016.
Numerous motorists called 9-1-1 to report that several areas of the US-101, near downtown L.A. were being taken over by large groups of people holding signs and shouting at passing vehicles.
Although it’s not entirely clear what the purpose of blocking the freeway and freeway ramps was, there was enough indications of political discourse.
The groups became verbally aggressive and physically uncooperative; many demonstrators took a seated position and refused to follow officer’s orders. The group’s reckless actions endangered thousands of innocent motorists because their path/exit was blocked and were being kept in place against their will for an extended period of time.
The group’s behavior also caused the response of hundreds of police officers, literally taking them away from their areas of responsibility and delaying emergency service response all over Los Angeles County. After several hours of Law Enforcement presence and enforcement actions, US-101 was reopened in the early morning hours.
The California Highway Patrol takes pride in being able to safeguard the rights of every citizen, including freedom of speech and freedom to assemble. However, when an assembly changes from peaceful to unlawful, and the actions of some reckless citizens begin to infringe on another person’s rights, including endangering them, the CHP will take swift action to restore safety.
As the case last night on the 101 freeway proved, enforcement action became necessary due to so many lives being endangered and ultimately, the groups intended message was lost in the chaos.
We encourage everyone in our communities to speak their mind and assemble with other like-minded people, but please do so peacefully and at an appropriate place. We cannot stress enough how dangerous it is for even one pedestrian to walk onto a freeway; we see too many collisions with tragic results as it is already.
It should be noted the actions of the group yesterday became unlawful as they walked on the freeway and their actions became criminal at the point they began affecting another person’s freedom and movement. The law enforcement community is prepared to respond, prepared to take immediate action and ultimately, prosecute to the full extent of the law any person that knowingly endangers another or infringes on their rights.
We are ALL one community and one nation, please keep the peace and respect one another.
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21 Comments
Every little excuse to start trouble grow up
Enough of the childish games, arrest them and get them off the road.
I’m going to say this, I’ve told my friends and family. I didn’t like trump. My friends didn’t either. You’re supporting your right to protest our president it’s in our first amendment, right to free speech and right to protest. If you are protesting against trump (in this case they are that’s the story anyway) do it peacefully on the sidewalk or storefronts but allowing customers in but just harmless protesting no punching no name calling just signs and maybe pamphlets. By insighting violence or causing a traffic jam in this case, you’re only giving a bad name to your cause. I’d protest with a sign or pamphlet against Trump, but not this no fires no violent protesting. You are only giving your cause a bad name. You are becoming the man you hate so much. (The same goes for trump supporters I respect your opinions and views if Hilary won I’d say the same thing!) don’t do this, don’t burn things, don’t violently protest, and most of all don’t burn the American flag. Please, stop the violent protests and give a good name to your cause. One of the most famous protests is MLK march on Washington they were arrested yes but now we see them as heros and the cops as corrupt. The sit ins at dinners they sat there peacefully while people beat them, spit at them etc. who do we see as the animals in this case? The people who spit and beat on the kids. If you want to be a protester, protest peacefully and if your cause succeeds you’ll be the Heros in the story. If you violently protest you’ll be the villains no matter what.
Blocking traffic isn’t violent but it threatened people’s lives, ambulances couldn’t get by nor cop cars. You may have killed someone by blocking the roads.
Again if your protesting trump do so peacefully
Trump supporters I don’t agree with you but if you protest something maybe Hilary petitioning to impeach trump; do it peacefully don’t do it violently..
rant done I apologize but people need to realize violently protesting is only doing YOU and innocent people harm and bringing your cause a bad name.
The saddest part about this is that it’s for nothing because they aren’t going to have a redo election. If Hillary Clinton has conceded and accepted graciously that Trump is the next President, then why can’t her supporters?
Straight to jail???
When Obama became president, Republicans didn’t revolt like this. Grow up people. Acting like savages.
Ridiculous behavior. This why America spoke up.
Suck it up buttercups!
Darby Kirby I wouldn’t go near downtown
God what a bunch of losers. They should be at home with their families bettering their lives not impeding the lives of others.
Just like our remainers who voted NOT to leave Europe, they can’t handle the result or the truth. Democracy dictates that the will of the people is carried out. Here in the UK we have a situation now that 18 million people who voted leave could be screwed by someone who wanted the protection against leaving via the govt. So, an unelected judge has ruled foul and everyone’s thinking hey! I’ve been shafted. Battle here’s not over yet. ?? Voted Trump so that’s that – he’s next POTUS so Hillary’s crying babies need to grow up and accept the facts.
Start arresting people
Just run them over and save the tax payers money!
Total losers!! IGNORANCE!! COMPLETE!! Call in the Military…..take these people to Jail!! This is extremely dangerous and so unnecessary!!
What good is it to impede those trying to get home after a long day of work. Get a grip & go get a damn job instead of protesting….im glad I wasn’t on the 101 today bc the story would have read different.
LMFAO ???
???
No right to protest if they voted. Voting is voluntary participating and implies consent to the outcome.
Omg this is so stupid
Any one in this post that agrees with these criminal animals are uneducated idiots and don’t know the laws…they all need to be arrested…you are not allowed to stop other people’s basic freedoms by rioting, that’s what they are doing you are not allowed to block traffic, put fear in residents damage property…threaten police and more…organized protests are usually given permits working with government with rules not to disrupt..any of these protests accross the country are all illegal even if on their face you assume they are peaceful simply for not burning anything…they can’t walk in packs of hundreds disrupting day to day activities they can’t intimate residents and make noise they are all illegal from my background and if “normal” Americans did any one of these at any other time we would be arrested..Democrat Progressive liberals are horrible selfish people that are bias or stupid either is dangerous…they should help others or clean their homes with all that energy most dont work. Never saw the t-party do this or any one of Trumps daily ralleys held by 10s of thousands up to four a day 7 days a week for months..not even trash left behind think about it..I would appreciate some riot about paying extra for bags to carry food home that’s nuts people love to pay extra for nothing where are these idiots when I am selling something
Republicans don’t protest when a Democrat wins because they have a job to go to