Tyisha Miller - Article

MILLER-SHOOTING PROTEST SNARLS TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 91

This article is exactly as appeared in the The Press as it was written by

Lisa O'neill Hill

Protesters stopping traffic on Highway 91.

Westbound Highway 91 was closed for about 15 minutes. Police say arrests could come after they watch videotapes of the protest. Protesters had planned a sit-in on local streets, but decided the freeway would have more impact.

Lunch hour protesters, who support further criminal investigations into the Tyisha Miller shooting, block Highway 91 through downtown Riverside.

Protesters of the Tyisha Miller shooting - some with children - marched onto highway 91 on Monday and forced the closure of the westbound lanes after they nearly caused a "catastrophic" accident, police said.

Motorists were infuriated.

"This is ridiculous," said Susan Larson of Riverside, who was a passenger in a westbound car that had to stop for the group. "What if someone gets killed on the freeway?"

Police said about 40 demonstrators had walked onto the westbound lanes before protester in a green Toyota pickup stop across several lanes and block traffic. A gasoline tanker truck nearly jackknifed when e driver slammed on the brakes to avoid the pickup. Riverside police Sergeant Jay Theuer said.

"That could have been an absolute disaster up there on that freeway," Theurer said.

More than 30 Riverside police and California Highway Patrol officers were called at about 11:50 AM to the area near the westbound freeway onramp at Lime and ninth streets in downtown Riverside when protesters gathered on the freeway and prayed. Many marchers were holding signs calling for prosecution of the officers who shot and killed Miller. A banner made to resemble a ballot, said, "peace officers... or assassins," with the box next to "assassins" checked off.

No one was immediately cited or arrested. Theuer said authorities were concerned with getting pedestrians off the freeways as promptly as they could. Police will review videotapes of the demonstration. Charges could be filed later. Theuer said.

Protesters were cooperative when o of the officers told them to leave the freeway.

Authorities said they were caught off guard.

"This thing took a very quick twist," CHP Officer Dennis Welch said. "They had not at all said this was a course of action they're going to take."

The demonstration occurred on the same day that Los Angeles U.S. Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas came to Riverside to speak to the group during its weekly Monday protest outside City Hall. He left before the protesters marched on the freeway.

The Rev. Bernell Butler, a Miller Cousin and family spokesman said marchers went to the freeway, " to put more attention on the criminal case." Butler said the group had planned stage a sit-in on local streets, but to the freeway because some protesters thought praying on the freeway would have a larger impact.

Mayorkas' office is investigating whether four white Riverside police officers violated Miller's civil rights when they killed the 19-year-old black Rubidoux resident on December 28. The officers had been sent to help her as she set unresponsive ln a locked car with a gun on her lap at a Riverside gas station.

The officers said they fired their guns when Miller moved towards weapon. The officers and a supervisor were fired earlier this year by the police chief for violating department policy.

Mayorkas' office also is investigating whether there's a pattern or practice of discrimination or excessive force in the Riverside Police Department.

Mayorkas told the group that the time it will take to complete the criminal investigation - initially estimated at six-month - will not be dictated by outside factors such as protests, he said. But he said it would be a irresponsible to say when the investigation would be finished.

"We will conduct it at the pace that the investigation warrants," he told the group. "Our intentions are not to leave a stone unturned," he said. After Mayorkas and others spoke at City Hall protesters be,gin marching on Ninth Street towards the freeway. They then crossed Lime Street and begin walking up the westbound on-ramp of Highway 91 as two undercover Riverside Officers videotaped the scene from across the street.

Riverside resident Art Downs, 55 was in the left turn lane on Lime Street waiting to enter the freeway when he saw people on the ramp. he said a police officer directed him and the other waiting cars to enter the freeway at 14th Street.

"They're defeating their purpose, because at this point, instead of bringing attention to whatever their cause is, they are provoking citizens." Downs said of the demonstrators. "Its irritating."

Harry Schank, 50, of Pennsylvania was on his way to Los Angeles International Airport for a 3:30 PM flight when he got caught in the traffic. He said he had been on vacation in Palm Springs.

"I'd just like to go home," said Schank, who did not know why the protesters were on the freeway.

When police realized what the group was doing, they called for backup and alerted the CHP.

The group lingered on the shoulder the freeware for a few minutes until a few walking in front of cars, forcing motorists to stop. The westbound lanes were closed for about 15 minutes as officers ordered the protesters off of the freeway; eastbound traffic became congested as people slowed down to look, the CHP said.

After the group was ordered off Highway 91, its members gathered at a Mobile gas station on 14th Street for cold drinks. Riverside officers, some in SWAT gear, gathered nearby, several behind an armored vehicle. The group then marched to the Police Department before disbanding.

The Rev. A. V. Johnson praised Butler after the march for his leadership. She said the march on the freeway added strength to the movement.

"We have victory," she said "we needed to make that move."