More than 600 demonstrators were arrested in Minnesota Wednesday night during post-election protests, authorities said.
Minnesota State Patrol said the massive bust came as demonstrators blocked traffic on city streets and interstate freeways during an hours-long protest in Minneapolis, the department said on Twitter Thursday.
“State Patrol troopers and Minneapolis police cited and released 646 people for being a pedestrian on a freeway and public nuisance following a protest that began on city streets in Minneapolis and continued onto I-94 near Riverside Avenue,” the post said. “Six vehicles were also towed.”
“No force or chemicals were used & no protesters or law enforcement were injured,” another tweet said.
The protest was among several nationwide amid tensions over an undecided presidential race between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden that has supporters on both sides crying foul.
Protesters from a Minneapolis group called “Don’t Let Trump Steal the Election” began gathering in the city early Wednesday, the Star-Tribute said.
The group grew in size as it marched from downtown onto major highways, ultimately shutting down I-94, I-35W, and Highway 280, the outlet said.
It took so long to round up the protesters that the crowd broke into dance while waiting to be arrested and processed, with WCCO-TV news host Jeff Wagner posting footage of the impromptu performance on Twitter.
Protestors on both sides of the political aisle have shut down roads and bridges in recent days — though there were no arrests when pro-Trump caravans clogged Fifth Avenue, the Garden State Parkway and the Mario Cuomo Bridge.
