Protesters shut down north I-5 in La Jolla
Demonstrators had twice blocked a freeway in City Heights Tuesday night
A group of demonstrators, some of them UC San Diego students, briefly shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Nobel Drive in La Jolla Wednesday morning.
The California Highway Patrol got the first call about the protest around 6:49 a.m., said CHP Officer Tommy Doerr. About 40 people — several carrying signs saying "Hands up, don't shoot" — were lined up across the freeway. The demonstration was in response to a grand jury decision not to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting of Missouri teenager Michael Brown.
A news helicopter camera caught the action on CW 6 San Diego, showing motorists out of their vehicles and apparently confronting protestors who started putting orange cones across freeway lanes. Vehicles were stopped in all lanes and both shoulders, making police access difficult.
At 7:18 a.m., about two dozen CHP patrol cars drove down an off-ramp onto freeway lanes and officers began to order the protestors to leave. CHP Officer Jake Sanchez said there were no confrontations as protestors walked up the ramp to Nobel Drive, headed toward UC San Diego and dispersed.
No one was arrested or issued citations, Sanchez said.
About 25 San Diego police officers helped clear the freeway of protesters, who left without incident once unlawful assembly was declared, said police Capt. Jerry Hara. He said since the freeway was under the CHP's jurisdiction, it was that agency's decision to ticket or cite the protesters.
"We will respect their first amendment rights to assemble to free speech, but if it becomes criminal or a safety hazard we will take appropriate action," he said of protesters.
San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said via Twitter that the department "will facilitate peaceful protests," but "will not tolerate criminal acts."
"Let's work together to ensure 1st amendment and safety," Zimmerman's tweet said.
The freeway was reopened a few minutes later. The Nobel Drive off-ramp remained closed until about 9 a.m.
Similar protests shut down a freeway in City Heights Tuesday night. Both incidents caused major traffic jams.
