Police made mass arrests near the intersection of Jefferson and Market after protesters closed eastbound Interstate 64 near Compton Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, police announced 143 people were arrested during the protest. Police said they were arrested for trespassing.
Four of the people arrested on Tuesday night were also arrested in a mass arrest in St. Louis about two weeks ago. According to documents from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, all but six were from the bi-state. Two of the people from out of town were a cameraman and a reporter from the online news outlet The Young Turks.
Protesters initially met at Schnucks on Lindell Boulevard before getting into their cars and driving onto the interstate. Police said the protesters closed the highway by driving onto the road, then slowing down and getting out of their cars. The road was closed at around 7:40 p.m.
Demonstrators have driven onto EB I-64 from Kingshighway & many have exited their vehicles. I-64 is shut down in the area. #STLVerdict
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) October 4, 2017
Around 8:05 p.m. protesters got off the highway and started marching northbound on Jefferson.
Demonstrators now marching in roadway northbound on Jefferson. EB I-64 is being reopened. #STLVerdict
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) October 4, 2017
Police blocked the protesters near the intersection of Jefferson and Market. The protesters moved to the sidewalk along Jefferson before police began making arrests around 8:30 p.m.
Dozens of people being arrested #STLVerdict #DowntownSTL pic.twitter.com/ThsSMokvNb
— Christina Coleman (@ChristinaKSDK) October 4, 2017
Jefferson was reopened just before 10 p.m.
