14 Somerville Protestors Avoid Prison After Halting Traffic on I-93

Photo Credit: Mass. State Police

Several members of a group dubbed the “Somerville 18” avoided prison and had their cases continued without a finding, following an incident in which they blocked traffic on I-93 during a “Black Lives Matter” protest back in January.

In Somerville District Court Thursday, 14 protestors had their cases continued without a finding after admitting responsibility, WGBH News reported.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan dismissed other charges against the 14, but a judge ordered them to serve 60 hours of community service.

On the morning of Jan. 15, the Somerville 18 gathered to protest police and state violence against African Americans, according to the group’s Facebook page. Their actions forced major traffic backups. An ambulance attempting to travel to a hospital in Boston was blocked, state police reported.

Two of the protestors were Somerville residents. Mayor Joseph Curtatone came to the group’s defense back in September, urging prosecutors to drop all charges against them.

Other members of the Somerville 18 will go on trial in December, the report indicated.