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SLPD issues warning after protesters block St. Louis freeway (VIDEO)

Monday, July 18, 2016 9:10

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(Before It's News)

Hours before a Cardinals game Saturday afternoon, protesters held up traffic on a St. Louis freeway, and although there were no arrests, the police department issued a stern warning.

According to reports from local media, about 200 protesters with the Black Lives Matter movement took to the streets and blocked traffic on I-64 for about 15 minutes. Police were called in for a disturbance and the crowd marched on, eventually making their way downtown to the Old Courthouse for a rally.

Other than temporarily blocking traffic, the demonstrations remained peaceful. However, the St. Louis Police Department later issued the following statement.

Blocking a highway is illegal. Not only it is an inconvenience to motorists, more importantly, it’s a safety hazard to protesters, police officers and the general public. Today’s illegal activity on the interstate forced the department to shift resources, take officers from our neighborhoods and pay officers overtime. Our number one priority is reducing crime and when we’re forced to pull resources from the neighborhoods to focus on illegal activities, it does our entire community a disservice.

Scores of protests and other demonstrations have occurred in cities all across the country as concerned citizens speak out against police brutality and inequality.