At least 19 people were arrested and a Seattle police officer suffered a leg injury after “Black Lives Matter” protesters blocked part of State Route 99 Monday afternoon.
Dozens of protesters ran in front of traffic and blocked the northbound lanes of State Route 99 near Seattle Center. Police said 19 protestors were taken into custody during the demonstration, which started about 2:30 p.m.
Calling it “civil disobedience,” organizers said they planned to block traffic for 4½ hours — the time 18-year-old Michael Brown “was left in the street after being killed by a police officer” in Ferguson, Missouri, a local NBC affiliate reported.
Multiple people held signs — one read “Black Lives Matter” while another said “Another Jew Against Police Violence,” the station reported.
“People are putting their lives on the line to make a statement that black lives do matter,” Monica Avery told a local ABC affiliate. “And there is a national call from Ferguson action and other black-led groups to start moving our lives and putting our bodies on the line to move the movement against police brutality.”
Other protesters in the group reportedly moved down Republican Avenue, where police say there was a “use of force” incident that resulted in the officer injuring his leg. The ABC affiliate reported that a demonstrator assaulted the police officer.
Police spokesman Patrick Michaud said the officer may have suffered a broken leg and it was related to the protests, but didn’t elaborate further, the NBC affiliate reported.
Both State Route 99 and the interstate off ramps were reopened about 4:30 p.m.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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