One protester stuck said, “We just want you to quit your job.”
If you’re trying to get into San Francisco from Oakland today (June 14,2020) you probably won’t be taking the Bay Bridge. According to several first-hand videos and traffic cams from the area it looks like hundreds, if not thousands of protesters marched their way from the Embarcadero onto the Bay Bridge, stopping traffic from entering San Francisco.
BAY BRIDGE SHUT DOWN
— chris?ian (@blastedpanda) June 15, 2020
BLACK LIVES MATTER pic.twitter.com/MhzAzEiWhP
San Francisco Bay Bridge occupied. #sanfranciscoprotest pic.twitter.com/f48urL5bcl
— roberto pedone (@zerosum24) June 15, 2020
we just want you to quit your job
— ? (@isaiahdidit) June 14, 2020
4:54pm sf ca pic.twitter.com/qtNab3TeXb
San Francisco Police were called out shortly after, forming a blockade between cars and protesters, preventing Black Lives Matter protesters from advancing any further.
6:03pm sf bay bridge ? #blm pic.twitter.com/I6Ucf8fqX9
— ? (@isaiahdidit) June 15, 2020
After over two hours of no movement, SF Police brought out vans to arrest dozens of peaceful protesters allowing cars to creep on by entering the city.
cops finally letting traffic thru after arresting over a dozen peaceful protestors
— ? (@isaiahdidit) June 15, 2020
6:20pm sf bay bridge ? #blm pic.twitter.com/GzDBlHDfTW
Although a highly contentious situation where one wrong move from either side could’ve set off a powder-keg of activity, this protest was probably one of the most peaceful protests that stopped traffic in the nation.
As of this writing there are no reports of anyone injured, or cars damaged. There were, of course, a couple of people who applied their own graffiti to support the BLM movement on the bridge itself.
Those stuck in their cars were also tweeting and sharing videos and honestly most seem only inconvenienced and understanding.
Of course I’m on the Bay Bridge with two kids while protesters shut it down. Hope they’re all safe up there while I listen to the wheels on the bus for the 8th time. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QNdnAQ2vGs
— Deval Patel (@devalapatel) June 15, 2020
My friend's parents are stuck on the bay Bridge while on their way to a hospital in the city to see their daughter who was in a horrific accident this morning. She may not make it and her parents may not get to say goodbye. That's sad…
— Nicholas (@Xpiceman) June 15, 2020
I’m stuck on the Bay Bridge right now because of a protest ? pic.twitter.com/ikGtdCy6Zg
— Trevy Trev (@soclevertrevor) June 15, 2020
It won’t be long before traffic resumes normal flow and people delayed by hours finally get where they need to go.
This is not the last protest on the Bay Bridge and, if there were more numbers, the bridge might’ve been occupied for a lot longer.
But, for a few hours earlier today, the Bay Bridge was successfully shutdown for traffic entering the city.
The same can’t be said for traffic leaving as no protesters made their way down to the lower deck.
