More Than A Dozen Arrested In Boston Climate Change Protests

BOSTON, MA — About 15 climate change protesters affiliated with the group Extinction Rebellion were arrested at various locations in the Boston area Wednesday during a larger attempt to disrupt traffic.

Police and transportation officials were on alert after the group said Tuesday night it was planning the disruptions without giving specific locations. Commuters were reporting state police at every exit between Rockport and Reading on I-95, and from I-95 to Somerville on I-93.

Protesters were successful in blocking a portion of the bridge at Seaport Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, according to Boston police. That blockade involved a parade, with demonstrators holding large puppets and signs that said "Stop the Fossil Fuel Industry Now."

State police said they had arrested five protesters trying to block the ramp from Leverett Circle to I-93 in Boston. Boston police detained a second group of demonstrators as they attempted to plant pink oil barrels across Summer Street in downtown Boston.

According to state police, the demonstrators arrested on disorderly conduct charges near Leverett Circle included Grant Rockett, 64, and Mary Hansen, 67, both of Jamaica Plain; Joseph Rogers, 55, of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire; Jennifer Smith, 48, of Watertown; and Mark Dugan, 54, of Newton.

Chapters of the Extinction Rebellion group have staged demonstrations across the globe, including in Massachusetts. One year ago, members of the group were arrested after they chained themselves to a boat in front of Gov. Charlie Baker's Swampscott home.

Wednesday's demonstration is part of an Extinction Rebellion "week of rebellion," a series of events aimed at raising awareness about climate change. Wednesday's planned blockade was labeled as the "stop fossil fuels morning rebellion."

"We are calling on the Massachusetts and federal government to ban all new fossil infrastructure and make a rapid transition away from existing fossil fuel infrastructure and onto renewable sources of energy," the group said.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update it as new information becomes available.