Protesters Plead Not Guilty After Blocking I-93
SOMERVILLE (CBS) – Protesters who blocked traffic on Interstate 93 during rush hour on Thursday morning were released on bail following court appearances.
Eighteen protesters appeared before a judge in Somerville District Court on Thursday afternoon, facing charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest while a group of 11 activists were before a judge in Quincy District Court.
Photo Gallery: Protesters Block Interstate 93
Activists in Milton attached themselves to 1,200-pound barrels that were unloaded from a box truck in East Milton Square at about 7:30 a.m.
Six protesters who blocked the road were arrested, three who watched from nearby were taken into custody, and two others were arrested when returning the truck to a rental facility.
The 11 people arraigned in Quincy District Court were:
- Nicole Sullivan, 24, of Somerville - Trespassing, Resisting Arrest, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Nelli Routsalainen, 25, of Roxbury - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- James Billman, 25, of Brookline - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Brett W. West, 26, of Boston - Trespassing, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Jeremy Bingham, 23, of Arlington - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Mark F. Schwaller, 29, Jamaica Plain - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Noah McKenna, 28, of Boston - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct ,Throwing an Object on a Public Way and Resisting Arrest.
- Angela N. Davis, 43, of Somerville - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct, resisting arrest and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Eli Cohen, 26, of Somerville - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct, resisting arrest and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
- Emily Osmun, 34, of Somerville - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct ,Throwing an Object on a Public Way and Resisting Arrest.
- William Connolly, 26, of Hanson - Trespassing, Throwing Glass on a Public Way, Willfully Obstructing an Emergency Vehicle, Conspiracy, Disorderly Conduct and Throwing an Object on a Public Way.
Each of the 11 Milton protesters was released on personal recognizance and ordered to return to court on April 9 for a pretrial conference, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said.
Related: I-93 Protests Divert Ambulance Carrying Driver With Life-Threatening Injuries
"We know of at least one elderly crash victim who could not be transported to the Level 1 Trauma Center his injury demanded because this road was illegally blockaded," Morrissey said. "The disregard for the safety and welfare of innocent citizens that this action manifests is shocking."
Among the 18 people arrested in Medford were Andrew Murray of Byfield, who faces charges of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon after he was found with an expandable baton. He was also charged with Disorderly Conduct, Trespassing, and Conspiracy.
Also appearing in court were Benjamin Woods of Jamaica Plain, Ian Trefethen of Hyde Park, and Jessica Lowell of Arlington. Each was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Trespassing, and Conspiracy.
The 14 members of the human chain charged with Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, Trespassing, and Conspiracy were:
- Ana Cancino, of the South End.
- Jackson Chan, of the Back Bay.
- Sabrina Ghaus, of Dorchester.
- Nancy Griffin, of Brighton.
- Johannes Huessy, of Roxbury.
- Kendra Jae, of Jamaica Plain.
- Mallory Kaczmarek, of Roxbury.
- Jacquelyn Lemus, of East Boston.
- Diana Mai, of Allston.
- Monica Majewski, of Dorchester.
- Thu Nguyen, of Jamaica Plain.
- Katharine Seitz, of Dorchester.
- Kathryn Selcraig, of Somerville.
- David Voutour, of Somerville.
The Somerville judge said that if any of the protesters are arrested while their cases are pending they will be held without bail.
Each of the 18 protesters arraigned in Somerville will next appear in court on February 20.
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