Watch CBS News

Some Show Up To Support Police During Protest That Shut Down U.S. 36

BOUDLER (CBS4) - It wasn't a typical traffic jam in Boulder Monday evening as a group of protesters put the brakes on vehicles when they took to the streets and made a mess on U.S. 36.

The protesters marched armed with signs and a message.

"Institutionalized racism and police brutality are no longer acceptable," a protester said.

US 36 PROTEST 1.transfer
(credit: CBS)

More than 100 protestors gathered at the corner of 28th Street and Colorado in Boulder to make their voices heard. Police completely shut down roads in the area so the protesters could make their way southbound on the Boulder Turnpike where they disrupted traffic for at least an hour.

"I'm here in solidarity for everything that is occurring in Ferguson, and I would extend that further to say not just Ferguson, but the United States," another protester said.

Instead of taking to city streets, the crowd made its way on to U.S 36 -- a federal highway -- shutting it down in both directions during rush hour and causing a massive traffic jam.

US 36 PROTEST 2PKG .transfer
Traffic backed up on the Boulder Turnpike (credit: CBS)

"I'm just trying to get home, I didn't even know it was going on," a commuter said.

RELATED: Protesters March On Boulder Turnpike, Block Traffic In Planned 'Die-In'

"You're alive right now and you should appreciate that and there are bigger problems in the United States than a traffic jam," a protester said.

At one point the crowd stopped and symbolically died.

"It's for 4 ½ minutes … everyone is going to lay down," a protester organizer said to the crowd.

US 36 PROTEST PK2G .transfer
(credit: CBS)

"I'm lying down in the highway because I benefit from the racialized violence against black lives in our nation," said a woman participating in the "die-in."

Two people who showed up at the protest had a different message.

"We support our police no matter how hard of a decision they have to make," said a man holding a sign that said "Support Police." "They still have to go home to their family at the end of the day."

US 36 PROTEST 4transfer
(credit: CBS)

The crowd eventually got back up and marched back towards Boulder as officers looked on and provided traffic safety.

Nobody was arrested. The protesters ended their demonstration at Naropa University.

Related Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.