Interstate Freeways
Earlier this month a judge set bail for Dawit Kelete at $1.2 million. Sadly a young protestor was killed however, when did it become ok to close an interstate freeway for a protest? The news media just reports that the freeway had been closed nightly for several days. In fact nineteen days in a row “for regular protests” is the common description.
Interstate highways or freeways fall under the jurisdiction of the state’s highway patrol or State Troopers. Not the local police or sheriff. Even though a local law enforcement could pull over or enforce an infraction. In the instance of both Portland and Seattle, the interstates were closed by protestors. Where we’re the state troopers? How did this happen in the first place? Did the Seattle and Portland Mayor’s office interfere with interstate law enforcement? It seems that these protests not only disrupted local traffic but also affected interstate commerce, which would be a federal crime under 18 USCS § 921.