M6 is closed in the Midlands as Black Lives Matter protesters WALK down the carriageway
M6 is closed in the Midlands as Black Lives Matter protesters WALK down the carriageway
- A video posted on social media shows crowds of people covering the motorway
- Many on motorway going other way got out of their cars to watch the protests
- A helicopter was also seen overhead on the stretch of the M6 near Coventry
By Amelia Wynne For Mailonline
Published: 15:12 EDT, 7 June 2020 | Updated: 16:04 EDT, 7 June 2020
The M6 in the Midlands was closed this evening as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway.
A video posted on social media showed crowds of people covering the motorway at the Exhall interchange near Coventry as traffic remained stationary on the other side.
One eyewitness said there were around 100 people taking part and that they were chanting ‘Black Lives Matter’ over and over again.
Many on the motorway going the other way got out of their cars to watch the protests which began at around 5pm. The southbound carriageway was close for around two hours.
One motorist said the crowd blocked off the road with cones before police arrived on scene to manage the traffic.
The M6 was closed in the Midlands as Black Lives Matter protesters walked down the carriageway
Many on the motorway going the other way got out of their cars to watch the protests which began at around 5pm
It is believed a ‘rolling roadblock’ stretched back as far as Junction 2 as motorists found themselves queuing for around an hour.
A police helicopter was circling the area and dog handlers were attending the scene.
One person commented on the video: ‘Unbelievable’ as another said ‘How was this allowed to happen?’
The Operational Patrol Unit for Warwickshire Police urged motorists to avoid the area amid reports of ‘pedestrian protesters’ on the southbound carriageway.
A video posted on social media shows crowds of people covering the motorway at the Exhall interchange near Coventry as traffic remains stationary on the other side
Many on the motorway near Coventry going the other way got out of their cars to watch the protests
One eyewitness told Birmingham Live: ‘I was going 70mph then they just walked out into the road in front of me’
They tweeted: ‘We are receiving reports of pedestrian protesters at junction 3 of the M6 in the southbound carriageway.
‘Southbound is now currently closed.
‘Please seek alternative routes and be wary if you are traveling on the M6.’
One eyewitness told Birmingham Live: ‘I was going 70mph then they just walked out into the road in front of me.
‘They put traffic cones down and then sat down. I’d say there are 100 here. They came on at junction 3 of the M6 and now there’s a rolling roadblock to junction 2.’
At around 7.30pm tonight police said that they were able to reopen the road after the protesters left the area.
OPU Warwickshire said on Twitter: ‘All protesters from the M6 have now headed into Coventry at junction 2 and are under the control and direction of West Midlands Police. Thank you for your patience.’
