Ferguson protesters block D.C. streets
WASHINGTON — Protesters angry over the shooting death of black teenager Michael Brown by a white officer in Ferguson, Mo., blocked major traffic routes in the nation's capital during rush hour Monday.
A group of protesters blocked a portion of the 14th Street Bridge, which connects Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., before moving to Independence Avenue, shouting "hands up, don't shoot." By midmorning, the 12th Street tunnel was shut down because of protesters.
At 14th and D streets in the district, some people stood and held hands across traffic lanes while others held signs.
"Shut it down for Mike Brown," they chanted.
The groups blocked traffic at each intersection as police officers followed along closely, but silently to ensure protesters' safety.
Video and photos show protesters lying in the middle of the street as part of a planned "die in."
"When you start messing with preventing them from doing what they want to do, that's when they are going to open up their eyes," said one protester, Mahder Etuma, a college student from Baltimore. "If we stood out at a park and complained, nobody would listen to us. We tried that, and it didn't work. So if we don't get justice, we gonna shut it down," she said.
Most drivers sat in their cars simply watching, unable to move. One woman, however, got out of her vehicle and yelled obscenities at the group. They were not deterred, and kept walking.
Protesters say that because they can't be in Ferguson, this is their way of helping. When asked if they feel bad about making people late to work, they said no.
"Just because of the color of my skin I have a chance of getting shot, just because of my color of my skin. And I think that is injustice," said Etuma.
One person was allowed through the march, however. "We let one car actually go because she said she was taking her husband to dialysis," said Noor Mir, a protester.
"Today is also the 59th anniversary of the Rosa Parks sit-in and I think that that kind of speaks to some of the people that appear to be angry with us. The point is to disrupt business as usual," Mir said.
The protesters ended their march in Chinatown. While many who marched said they were seeking justice for Brown, others had more personal reasons to get involved.
"I like to bring it to the attention of people who might not be quite familiar with it and I hope there would be some type of change," said Bernard Jenkins who says he has experienced police brutality.
On Sunday, a couple of dozen protesters shut down Interstate 395 when they created a human chain across the north and southbound lanes of the Southeast Southwest Expressway. They staged a "die-in" as they laid down on the highway under threat of arrest. The demonstration tied up traffic for more than a half-hour and eight people were arrested.
No arrests were made at demonstrations in Georgetown and inside Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, Va. The D.C. protests have been peaceful.
Protesters planned to stage a rally outside the Justice Department later Monday.