Caltrans crews installed gates overnight at several onramps and offramps along the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles ahead of this weekend’s “No Kings” protest, with officials citing safety concerns about demonstrators accessing the freeway.
According to KTLA, video captured crews putting up the gates early Friday at Los Angeles Street, work carried out at the request of the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The CHP says its primary concern is demonstrators walking onto the freeway and blocking traffic — something that has happened during several protests in recent years. In February of last year, anti-ICE protesters blocked both directions of the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, triggering major gridlock. During a separate protest in June, demonstrators threw rocks and other objects onto the freeway, damaging several CHP vehicles and causing one to catch fire.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell commented on that earlier incident, saying at the time: “That can kill you.”
The CHP stressed that keeping demonstrators off the freeway is a safety issue for both marchers and motorists. Officials emphasized that the gates will only be used as needed, with officers coordinating with Caltrans before any freeway ramps are actually closed. Authorities did not specify exactly how many ramp locations received gates.
Dozens of “No Kings” rallies are scheduled for Saturday across Los Angeles County, including events in Long Beach, Burbank, Alhambra, and downtown Los Angeles.
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