Police Remove Wooden Pallets Used by Protesters to Block Roadway and Create Possible ‘Autonomous Zone’

In Asheville, North Carolina, police removed wooden pallets in a roadway that they say protesters used to create a barricade on last night. Video taken from the scene indicated that they were possibly trying to create an “Autonomous Zone.”

The police department posted a statement on Twitter regarding the incident and said that “blocking a roadway is not only illegal, but dangerous for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.”

Blocking a roadway is not only illegal, but dangerous for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. #Asheville #AVL pic.twitter.com/trUhMnnomx

— Asheville Police (@AshevillePolice) June 13, 2020

From WSPA:

According to Asheville Police, officers noticed several individuals unloading wooden pallets and other items in the parking lot located at 130 N. Lexington Avenue at 9 p.m.

This is underneath the I-240 bridge.

As additional officers were arriving, police say protesters began using these items to create a barricade across the roadway.

After several warnings, officers removed the pallets and other items.

Once the items were removed, officers asked the protesters to move to the sidewalk area, in which they complied and left the area, according to a press release from the police department.

No arrests were made.

The City of Asheville Public Works Department responded and removed three truck loads of items, police said.