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The organization, known as Extinction Rebellion, is a movement that strives to persuade governments to "act justly" on the climate emergency, according to their website.
Extinction Rebellion coordinates non-violent demonstrations around the world and appropriately chose to host their Boston demonstration during the city's notoriously congested morning commute. While the organization did apologize for increasing traffic delays, they made their intention clear in a Facebook post.
MassDOT warned commuters about the impending closures the night before on Twitter. After an initial meeting in Post Office Square in Downtown, the protests concentrated in the Seaport District. Protestors were also seen blocking lanes and lying on the ground on Summer Street.
Massachusetts State Police arrested five protestors during the demonstrations on the on the ramp from Leverett Circle to I-93 around 7 a.m., police said.
They also recovered four 55-gallon steel drum barrels with holes cut into them called "sleeping dragons." The devices are meant to to secure protestors to each other by placing their arms through the holes to form a roadblock, State Police added.
Each were charged with trespassing on state property, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit a crime. They are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court or Charlestown District Court, police added.
Boston area commuters were being advised to expect travel delays and seek alternate routes, Boston Police said on Twitter. It is unclear exactly how long the protests lasted.
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