LOS ANGELES, California — Over 50 protestors occupied and marched down a section of the off-ramp on the 10 Freeway at La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles to voice their anger, disdain and unrest with a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury’s decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, who was killed on August 9.
Two dozen California Highway Patrol officers accompanied the crowd, making for approximately one officer for every two people to ensure the protests remained peaceful. At one point the protestors laid down in the middle of the street, blocking traffic on the freeway shouting “shut it down, shut it down!”
However a heavy police presence there and at several other Los Angeles protest sites kept any potential violence under control. Overall the protests were peaceful on the 10 freeway and throughout Southern California, standing in stark contrast with the chaos and havoc wrought in Ferguson and in other cities.
Update: Shortly before midnight, protestors were reported to have moved to the 110 freeway, where the local NBC News affiliate reported that California Highway Patrol had moved into remove them:
UPDATE: CHP officers moving in on protesters who sat down in middle of 110 Freeway, shutting down traffic. Watch live http://t.co/Ka9BQV4V9P
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) November 25, 2014
In Leimert Park, dozens of Angelenos convened from early in the afternoon, awaiting the verdict. Rev. Willie Smith screamed over a microphone “we will protest but it will not be violent,” according to coverage from CBS Los Angeles. That sentiment was carried throughout the rest of Southern California where scattered groups gathered in peaceful unison.
Los Angeles — “@LATvives: Two groups of demonstrators merge on Crenshaw, near Leimert Park. #FergusonVerdict https://t.co/ZEpf1P3UYV“
— Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) November 25, 2014
Beverly Hills also experienced peaceful protesting. A tweet from the following user displays the sit-in across from the famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel:
Currently with the group marching on Wilshire. They’re at Rodeo Dr. EXTREMELY PEACEFUL! #Ferguson #LosAngeles pic.twitter.com/Ye1GKhYI7k
— Tre’vell Anderson (@TrevellAnderson) November 25, 2014
Nearby at the LAPD headquarters, all was quiet with the exception of activist and former community organizer Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson who expressed his intention to bring justice to the Brown family.
“We are not satisfied with what we have witnessed today,” Hutchinson said. He and several other activists are seeking to collect upwards of 1 million signatures in opposition to the grand jury’s decision not to indict officer Wilson.
Photo: File
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