Authorities across the country arrested protesters who blocked highways to protest the events in Ferguson, MO, but no arrests were made in San Diego Wednesday because those involved complied immediately with an order to disperse.
The California Highway Patrol handled the brief shutdown of northbound Interstate 5 near Nobel Drive by protesting students from UC San Diego. Lanes were blocked from 6:50 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., causing a long backup and angering motorists.
CHP Sgt. Jim McNamara said that after making contact with the demonstrators, CHP officers “gave the order for them to disperse at which time they complied immediately.”
He said the CHP is committed to safe passage on the highways.
“In light of recent events, we are attempting to balance this need with the people’s constitutional right to free speech,” he said. “When these two needs conflict, the CHP makes every effort to resolve these situations with the minimal amount of force and interruption to commerce.”
San Diego Police were also involved in the incident, but the CHP has jurisdiction on Interstate highways.
Protesters also briefly closed Interstate 15 in City Heights on Tuesday night.
