Protests in Berkeley took a sinister turn Thursday night as protesters surrounded and tried to hold drivers and passengers hostage as human shields in an attempt to forestall police action to clear highways held by the protesters.
An Amtrak train was blocked by protesters.
There was a claim that Amtrak safety equipment was tampered with.
A spokesperson for Amtrak told The Gateway Pundit that Amtrak was aware of the attempted sabotage and was investigating.
https://twitter.com/violentfanon/status/542196393482264577
https://twitter.com/violentfanon/status/542196547018952704
Fortunately the police drove the protesters off the freeway—liberating the drivers and passengers trapped by the Berkeley protesters a few minutes after they were forcibly detained.
https://twitter.com/violentfanon/status/542198388368748544
Earlier there was a report of a pregnant woman on the way to the hospital to deliver a baby being trapped on the I-80 freeway in Berkeley when the road was blocked by protesters.
Protesters also blocked Amtrak trains and reportedly sabotaged a safety device.
BREAKING:
Protesters in #Berkeley have SHUT DOWN amtrak. #EricGarner #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/oGgcvYQY8I— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) December 9, 2014
Amtrak trains still halted after hour and half of Berkeley protesters camped out on tracks pic.twitter.com/0DygHoQFsc
— Julia McEvoy (@juliamcevoy1) December 9, 2014
Someone might want to tell @Amtrak_CA that the control wire on their safety arm was cut at Berkeley station. #berkeleyprotests
— idk (@autodefenestr8r) December 9, 2014
Amtrak still blocked at Berkeley station #berkeleyprotests pic.twitter.com/WVTKcNDhCb
— Richard Przybyla (@shibeewah) December 9, 2014