DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES () — A portion of the 101 Freeway was shut down ahead of dozens of “No Kings” protests that could draw tens of thousands of people across Southern California this weekend.
Caltrans crews were seen installing security gates on the freeway on and off-ramps in downtown Los Angeles. The agency said the gates were requested by the California Highway Patrol as proactive safety measures, but it remains unclear whether they’ll be used on Saturday.
Eyewitness News reached out to the agency and the California Highway Patrol to confirm whether the barriers were installed to keep protesters off the freeway on Saturday.
During past “No Kings” protests in the downtown area, some demonstrators made their way onto the freeway using the ramps and temporarily blocked traffic.
“I understand the concern. I do think it’s a little weird, especially considering our financial situation in L.A., that we can drop a bunch of money on gates that I guarantee will never be used. But, the city’s priorities are obviously different than ours,” said Nick Miller, the No Kings press coordinator.
Last year’s protests were peaceful for the most part, but turned chaotic after some confrontations between police and demonstrators after nightfall.
People who live and work in the area support peaceful protests but think the gates could be useful.
“On the one hand, they have their right to protest. On the other hand, you have to think about the people who are just getting off work and trying to go home. I mean, affecting their families,” one resident said. “You have to balance that.”
A rally at Gloria-Melina Grand Park is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a march.
The nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations are to protest the Trump administration’s policies such as immigration crackdowns, ICE enforcement raids and the war with Iran.
Organizers say roughly two-thirds of more than 3,000 planned demonstrations will be held outside urban areas across the country. Overall, more than 9 million people are expected to turn out nationwide for what leaders predict will be the largest day of protesting in U.S. history.
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