"Police arrest demonstrators in Hart Bridge protest during evening rush hour"

[sheclown]

Police arrest demonstrators in Hart Bridge protest during evening rush hour

By Jim Schoettler, Derek Giliam & Dan Scanlan Mon, Dec 8, 2014 @ 8:16 am | updated Tue, Dec 9, 2014 @ 6:12 am
Bob.Self@jacksonville.com

Demonstrators orchestrated a halt to Monday morning's rush-hour traffic on Interstate 95 just south of Jacksonville's downtown to protest the recent grand jury decisions not to indict the police officers who killed Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Missouri.

Then during the rush hour home, a group of about 20 protesters did the same thing on Jacksonville's Hart Bridge. They got out of vehicles in the westbound lanes about 5 p.m. and walked toward downtown as they protested before being arrested by police near EverBank Field. Police said one protestor threw a punch at an officer while being arrested.

The morning protest started shortly after 7 a.m. when about a half-dozen men stopped their vehicles at the same time on I-95 between Emerson Street and University Boulevard and got out to protest, the Sheriff's Office said.

The group dispursed when officers arrived, but traffic was backed up for about an hour, the Sheriff's Office said. Some of them were cited under Florida traffic statutes for pedestrians on a limited access highway, a civil infraction.

The men involved in the morning protest, all African-Americans, didn't identify themselves as being from any organized group. They said they had come from different neighborhoods in Jacksonville to deliver a message that any type of heavy-handedness by police will not be tolerated.

The later protest included both white and black people.

Garner died July 17 in New York City after being tackled by police during his arrest for selling cigarettes, telling the officers "I can't breathe" as he was grabbed around the neck. Brown was shot and killed early Aug. 10 during a struggle with a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Both were black and unarmed.

"They're killing people around the country and I want people to know we won't tolerate it here," said Wesley Phillips, 34, at the I-95 protest. "We have rights and I want those rights to be respected."

Phillips, who said the police acted appropriately Monday, was one of the men issued a $62.50 ticket for walking along the interstate during the demonstration. He said he was protesting more than just the recent grand jury decisions, but the overall lack of value placed on the lives of black men.

"Young black males' lives aren't valued," he said. "And as young black males we have to take a stand."

Police on the scene said the men were peaceful and obeyed their requests to stay out of traffic. Several motorists watching the men being interviewed along the side of northbound I-95 honked their horns.

"There really wasn't any trouble," said one police sergeant as he was leaving the scene.

Terry Levy, who said he was from the Northside, said he joined the group to ensure that the public took notice that people in Jacksonville are no less accepting of civil rights violations as those who have protested the grand jury decisions across the country.

"This is my community and we have a right to live in peace here," said Levy, 38. "We have to stand up for what we believe in. We believe in peace."

The men said they had no immediate plans for future protests, but didn't discount the idea.

Hours later more protesters, some waving Day-Glo signs, slowly walked in front of 5 p.m. traffic on the downtown side of the Hart Bridge, according to a video marked #SHUTITDOWNMONDAY on Facebook.

Sheriff's Office Director Tom Hackney said protestors arrived in three or four vehicles and blocked both lanes of the Hart Bridge. He said police arrived within minutes and had the protestors drive their vehicles a short distance away near Everbank Field. Police cleared the bridge in about 10 minutes.

The men and women, both white and black, were arrested on misdemeanor charges for blocking traffic, Hackney said. He said one of the protesters threw a punch and hit an officer in the face. That protestor will be charged with felony battery on a police officer.

Hackney said protestors were arrested because the situation was more dangerous than the earlier demonstration. He said police are ready to react if more demonstrations happen in the future.

Hackney said the demonstration tied up a private ambulance with a patient onboard in traffic on the bridge.

A man claiming to be part of the organization responsible for the demonstration called the Sheriff's Office response to the protest "overzealous."

James Evans Muhamud said he's with the Washington, D.C., based organization Black Lawyers for Justice. He said some of the protestors weren't from Jacksonville, although he was born and raised here. He said he didn't know how many were from other cities.

Muhamud said the goal of the Hart bridge demonstration was to "tie the traffic up and bring attention to the fact that racism is destroying America."

"It's going to happen all over the city," he said of civil disobedience.

However, he wouldn't say if there were protests planned for Tuesday.

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2014-12-08/story/police-arrest-demonstrators-hart-bridge-protest-during-evening-rush-hour

[thekillingwax]

It's stupid. Protesting is fine but no one stuck in a massive backup is going to say "You know, I didn't really agree with their point of view. After they made me wait in traffic and be late for work, I totally get it!". They keep at it and someone is going to get hurt or worse.

[acme54321]

Wait until one of them gets hit by a car 

[sheclown]

It's stupid. Protesting is fine but no one stuck in a massive backup is going to say "You know, I didn't really agree with their point of view. After they made me wait in traffic and be late for work, I totally get it!". They keep at it and someone is going to get hurt or worse.

that's probably what the riders on Rosa Parks bus said too.

or what the lunch counter folks said about Rodney Hurst as he and his friends sat down for a hot dog at the all white counter in Hemming Plaza

or the students who participated in sit-ins in the 60s

it is civil disobedience and it isn't done to make people sympathetic to a cause -- it is done to state what ought to be obvious -- "it is our country too we have a right to make our opinion known -- ignore us and the message will only get louder"

[KenFSU]

^ In these cases though, the actions taken by said protestors were specific and symbolic. Minorities have to ride in the back of the bus? Rosa Parks sits in the front of the bus. Minorities are refused service at downtown lunch counters? Protestors sit there anyway. Southern states refuse to comply when segregated buses are ruled unconstitutional? Freedom Riders board buses and travel through those states. Students oppose the Vietnam War? They "sit-in" at government offices and other facilities supporting or aiding the war effort. The local arts community doesn't like Clay Yarborough threatening to defund MOCA over a portrait depicting exposed breasts? They picket in front of MOCA during a high-visibility event and strap on fake boobs.

I admire anyone who is willing to take a stand for their beliefs and agree with many of the points that these protestors are making, but there has to be a better, more relevant way to protest than blocking I-95 at rush hour, backing up traffic for an hour, making people late for work, and just generally creating a dangerous situation for yourself and for others sharing the road with you. Civil disobedience doesn't have to make others sympathetic to your cause, but pulling stunts like this is counterproductive and will actively turn people off from your cause. I don't care what you are protesting, if you make me miss my flight or rear-end the vehicle in front of me, you're no friend of mine and you're not getting any of my support with your efforts.

March on Washington. Block the entrance to the Sheriff's Office. Stage a walk-out. Call in to local radio stations. Buy an ad in the Times-Union. Picket in front of City Hall. Hell, safely park your cars at a red light on Beach Boulevard if you insist on stopping traffic. But don't stop your cars on the highway on a foggy morning in rush hour.

[thekillingwax]

Exactly. Rosa Parks and Rodney Hurst weren't playing in traffic. Sit-ins didn't block a major artery in and out of the core that provides access to a trauma center. It's stupid and it is dangerous. Like I said, they keep doing it and someone will get seriously hurt and then it'll be all "How could this have happened?".

[coredumped]

These people are idiots.

They're basically upset that someone lost their rights, so they've taken away other peoples right to move freely.

I'm all for them protesting, but don't infringe on my rights, and look out if you jump in front of my truck on the interstate, I gotta get to work so you can protest!

[benfranklinbof]

They went out of their way to do that... Seems like a waste of time. The police officers wouldn't of bothered them if they weren't acting like that. Silly people.

[Jtetlak]

I agree with Stephen, the point was to get people's attention. I don't necessarily agree with it, but no one would be talking about it if they were just protesting outside the sheriff's office. Also, I believe this is a coordinated national movement using the hashtag #shutitdown.

[tufsu1]

I got caught up in traffic from both the morning and evening protests.  No big deal.  I am glad they chose major public places to grab attention and make their point.  My only concern is that our interstate highways are very dangerous for pedestrians.  The morning group was moved to the overpass where they were safe and could still hold a visible demonstration.

I also saw lots of comments on Facebook telling these people to "get a job" (see coredumped's post above).  How do we know they don't have jobs?  Many people don't work 8-5 jobs and/or they could have taken time off to advocate for an issue they are passionate about!

[Dapperdan]

The Rosa Parks demonstration meant a lot more in the 60s and was very shocking and disruptive in that time. In today's day and age, the protestors feel that to get their voice out there, they need to take more drastic measures.  I would think that as progressive as this forum claims to be, we could see it for what it is.

[KenFSU]

Getting attention cannot be allowed to trump public safety. Ever. There are a million ways to get recognition without stopping traffic on the highway. It wasn't even six months ago here in North Florida that backed up traffic on I-95 caused a horrific multi-vehicle accident that resulted in four people burning to death on the highway.

Six Dead in I-95 Crashes

FHP said the backup from the Palm Coast crash may have contributed to the crash in St. Johns county that involved at least eight passenger vehicles and three commercial motor vehicles. At least four deaths were confirmed.

FHP said preliminary information revealed that traffic was being detoured from I-95 southbound to the exit of U.S. 1, due to the Palm Coast crash. Traffic was stopped awaiting the detour when a semi-truck approached the area.

For reasons still under investigation, the big rig was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending a vehicle, which started a chain-reaction crash involving nearly a dozen vehicles.  After the initial impact, fire engulfed several vehicles.

Another example of what happens when traffic unexpectedly stops on the highway:

10 injured in I-95 pileup

By DANA TREEN
The Times-Union,

Larry Wilcox watched in his rearview mirror as a tractor-trailer plowed toward him in a six-vehicle pileup Wednesday on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville that sent 10 people to hospitals.

"There were cars behind me," he said. "I saw pieces flying both ways and cars flying both ways."

S.D. Ezell, Florida Highway Patrol trooper, works on a report of a six-vehicle accident on Interstate 95 and Emerson Street. Ten people were taken to hospitals. Donald Harrell of Johnson City, Tenn., the driver of a tractor-trailer, was cited for careless driving. BRUCE LIPSKY/The Times-Union

Wilcox and his wife, Linda, were hit from behind by the Freightliner in the 2:30 p.m. accident that closed the I-95 northbound lanes at Emerson Street for nearly two hours.

"I hollered out to my husband, 'I love you,'" Linda Wilcox said. "I didn't know if we were going to make it."

The Wilcoxes were not hurt in the wreck, which crumpled the rear of their Saturn and shoved them down the road.

One motorist, though, had to be cut from her car after it was shoved onto its side against a concrete median wall, but the extent of her injuries or harm to others was not clear at the scene, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Sandy Ezell said.

Ezell said three ambulances took 10 people to Shands Jacksonville and Baptist Medical Center for treatment. Truck driver Donald Harrell and his son, Jeff, were the last to be taken for treatment by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.

Donald Harrell, 61, of Johnson City, Tenn., was cited for careless driving, no proof of insurance and an expired medical card.

Witnesses said the wreck unfolded as northbound drivers slowed just south of the Emerson exit to scan a fender-bender in the southbound lane.

"It was a very scary situation," said Teri McCall, who was in the same group of vehicles as the tractor-trailer. She said the truck was passing and had been weaving in and out of lanes when she saw brake lights ahead.

"I saw all the brake lights start to hit," McCall said, and started to slow her car. "He hit the car that was in front of him. He fishtailed into two other lanes, back and forth, back and forth."

McCall and her passenger, Deborah Payne, said the tractor-trailer started to jackknife before coming to a halt.

Two pickup trucks caught in the wreck and two cars that were shoved into the median ended up behind the tractor-trailer.

Jeff Harrell, who was in the truck, said it was hard to describe what happened.

"I don't know," he said. "A landslide."

There is no cause, no matter how noble, that justifies the needless danger that these protesters put drivers in yesterday. For those who applaud yesterday's action, what would you be saying if it would have cost lives? What if a patient had died on the way to Baptist because I-95 was blocked by protestors?

Great cause, but absolutely reckless behavior that shouldn't be encouraged.

[benfranklinbof]

⤴ agreed ⤴

[coredumped]

I like it.  Certainly got everyone's attention.

You like it? What's so great about taking away other peoples rights and breaking the law? It's OK since you agree with the same opinion?
Yes, it's gotten attention, but the reaction to it 99% of the time is "these people are idiots."

http://www.youtube.com/v/T2bkt9aLBBI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2bkt9aLBBI

[coredumped]

If it is your 'right' to use the bridge, why can the cops shut it down for traffic control purposes?