Update 10:46 a.m.: All BART stations are open again, but running with delays. Meanwhile, protesters are still blocking the entrance to the Ronald V. Dellums federal building in Oakland. Workers can still enter the building through other doors and the protest is expected to end at 11:06 a.m.
Activists blocking back door doing the same hard work, but without the attention. #MLKShutItDown#3rdWorld4BlackPowerpic.twitter.com/czOj61gTaS
— Not Frantz Fanon (@violentfanon) January 16, 2015In a demonstration that gathered crowds before the 7 a.m. start time, the planned #BARTFriday event shows no sign of letting up. In the Montgomery station, BART made announcements earlier this morning repeating that there is "no service to the East Bay" and BART later officially confirmed that "due to a civil disturbance" trains would not be stopping at Montgomery, Powell, or Embarcadero stations. (Montgomery has since re-opened intermittently). One man was arrested at Montgomery, and eight cops carried him up the escalator as protestors banged spoons on metal poles and trains, chanting "Let us on the train." The crowd split in half, with one group marching towards the Embarcadero, and that station was shut down by BART too, and the protestors continued peacefully to Civic Center and Powell stations and into Market Street.
It's too early to know if the demands the group has made, like for Alameda County prosecutors to drop charges against 14 protesters that blocked a BART train late last year, will be met.
Expect delays and think of finding alternate ways of getting to work. We will be updating this post as we have additional info.
Additional reporting and photos by Sierra Hartman.
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