SEATTLE — The King County Prosecutor Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) has charged six people in connection to a protest that blocked northbound Interstate 5 on Jan. 6.
Five of the protesters were charged with second-degree criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, and one person was charged with disorderly conduct.
In addition, five other people are still under investigation for their participation in the protest and charges could be filed at a later date. The prosecutor’s office declined to file charges against one person because photo evidence was insufficient, according to a spokesperson.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Jan. 6, protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza blocked all northbound lanes of I-5 in downtown Seattle by stopping 12 vehicles, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The protesters got onto the freeway by cutting through a fence and a group of eight people bound together in a technique known as a "sleeping dragon."
According to an incident report, law enforcement estimates as many as 500 people were involved, either on the freeway or in surrounding areas, which slowed police response time.
The 12 vehicles used to block the freeway were abandoned. Per protocol, state patrol had to search them with bomb-sniffing dogs before towing them.
At the I-5 protest, none of the protesters were arrested by police and there were also differences in announcements made by police, according to Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the KCPAO.
“Police had to identify people later on based on admissible evidence, which creates a different legal scenario compared to when someone is booked and identified and fingerprinted the same day,” said McNerthney.
WSP referred charges to be filed against 12 people as misdemeanor charges, not felonies, according to the KCPAO.
On April 15, authorities arrested 46 people for blocking a main road into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The demonstration, held to on Tax Day to show frustration with America sending money to Israel, caused flight delays and blocked traffic for a few hours.
While charges against the arrested protesters at the airport were filed the following day, McNerthney said the charges against the I-5 protesters took time due to initial investigations and additional information needed after the incident.
Each of the defendants will be arraigned Wednesday, May 1, at the King County Courthouse.