After years of demonstrators repeatedly shutting down freeway traffic around downtown Los Angeles, Caltrans has installed large metal swing gates onto freeway ramps ahead of this weekends \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests.<\/p>\n
Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol finished installing swing gates early Friday morning on Los Angeles Street ramps at downtown Los Angeles along the 101 Freeway, according to Lauren Wonder, a public information officer for Caltrans District 7.<\/p>\n
These gates can be closed by California Highway Patrol officials when deemed necessary to restrict both vehicle and pedestrian entry to help ensure public safety, said Wonder.<\/p>\n
The installation comes as Southern California prepares for another round of nationwide \u201cNo Kings\u201d demonstrations against the Trump administration Saturday. With 41 rallies planned, turnout could rival or exceed previous protests<\/a>, which have drawn millions nationwide and tens of thousands of participants in downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Past \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests have included crowds of up to 30,000 protestors downtown<\/a>, as demonstrators rally against policies they describe as executive overreach<\/a>.<\/p>\n The gates are supposed to allow California Highway Patrol to manually block access points to the freeway.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime the gates are closed is based off the situation that we\u2019re faced with and there will be individuals there to open and close the gates,\u201d said CHP Sgt. Daniel Keene. \u201cThis will prevent individuals from going places they don\u2019t belong.\u201d<\/p>\n In recent years, several demonstrations have expanded onto adjacent freeways, grinding traffic to a halt. <\/p>\n Last year, protesters clashed with law enforcement on the 101 amid protests over federal immigration enforcement.<\/a> <\/p>\n