OAKLAND (KRON) — Thousands of cars were stuck on the Bay Bridge after protesters took over the westbound span.
On Monday night, the spokeswoman for the group is defending their actions. She is speaking out, while 25 protesters are behind bars.
The group is called Black Seed, and there was a lot of planning that went into Monday’s total shutdown of the Bay Bridge just before the afternoon commute.
Black Seed and the Black Queer Liberation Collective took responsibility for the protest in a statement, citing recent police shootings. The protest was part of a series of actions for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“We are here to move towards an increase in the health and wellbeing of all Black people in Oakland & San Francisco,” the groups wrote in a statement.
They are demanding divestment of city funds in policing, investment in affordable housing, the resignation of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, the termination of San Francisco police Chief Greg Suhr and Oakland police Chief Sean Whent and the termination of police officers involved in several recent shootings.
Watch the above video to see Kate’s full report.Bay City News contributed to this report.