RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — All southbound lanes were closed for a section of Interstate 95 in the city of Richmond due to a group of people sitting in the roadway as part of a protest.
The incident was first reported shortly before 7 a.m. on Monday, March 11, and was located on I-95 South near the Arthur Ashe Boulevard exit.
According to a spokesperson with Virginia State Police, nine people had linked themselves together using two ladders and a large metal chain as part of a protest tactic known as the “sleeping dragon.” The maneuver involves linking up using handcuffs, PVC pipe and chicken wire to hinder the removal of protestors.
Shortly before 7:15 a.m., Virginia State Police declared an unlawful assembly.
A spokesperson with Virginia State Police said that the protestors were “a pro-Palestine group.” Photos of the protestors show they were wearing clothes that read “Stop Genocide” and carried the colors of the Palestinian flag.
“For the protesters’ safety and to expedite the reopening of the interstate lanes, the protesters were guided to the right, southbound shoulder of the interstate,” a Virginia State Police spokesperson said. “Three of the protesters voluntarily gave up almost immediately. They were taken into custody and transported off the interstate.”
According to VDOT, all southbound lanes were closed. The north left shoulder and left lane were also closed. Shortly after 7:15 a.m., most lanes were reopened but the south right lane and right shoulder remained closed.
“Specially-trained troopers arrived on scene to safely extricate the remaining six protesters from the sleeping dragon devices, which turned out to be large PVC piping wrapped in chicken wire and connected via a large metal chain,” the police spokesperson said. “The six were then taken into custody without further incident and transported off the interstate. By approximately 10:30 a.m., the scene was cleared and the final southbound lane reopened to through traffic.”
The following individuals were charged with stopping the vehicle of another, obstructing the free passage of others, unlawful assembly and being a pedestrian on the interstate:
- Zayneabideen Rasul Al-Murshidi, 23, of Roanoke
- Max Hudson Gray Holland, 24, of Henrico
- Charles D. Caines, 23, of Round Hill
- Kemp Walker Barber, 25, of Richmond
- Connor Joris McCarty, 21, of Norfolk
- Naomi Destiny Isaac, 25, of Richmond
- Sarah Elizabeth Milkowski Dahlgren of Henrico
- Kenrick Keith Cameron Jr., 25, of Richmond
- Jasmine Juliet Cuellar, 30, of Richmond
There were no injuries to any of the protesters involved or law enforcement, according to police.
“It is unacceptable to block interstates, endanger the lives of Virginians and cause mayhem on our roads,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin in a statement. “Grateful to [Virginia State Police] for their commitment to ensuring safety and quickly handling during this morning’s commute.”
8News has reached out to an organization claiming to be behind the protest but has not yet received a response.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
