TAMPA, Fla. — Protesters in parts of the Tampa Bay area shut down portions of several roads for some time, causing traffic delays.
In Tampa, protesters shut down the intersection of Spruce and Dale Mabry starting around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Protest organizers called for demonstrators to shut down the streets as part of "Fourth of July Canceled."
About 75 protestors started gathering in the parking lot of the Walmart on North Dale Mabry and after about an hour of planning and coordination -- and even a peaceful conversation with several Tampa police officers -- they began to move.
Protesters were heard chanting "no racist police" during the demonstration.
About 30 minutes after it started, Tampa police began driving near the protestors with a loudspeaker advising them they were breaking the law by blocking the roadway.
Just before 1 p.m., officers told protesters to disperse.
After about 45 minutes of blocking the intersection, a group of about 30 people starting marching north in the road. They made it about two blocks before Tampa police moved in.
Several protestors leaving the area told 10 Tampa Bay police used tear gas to stop them and made several arrests.
Sarasota police said that all westbound traffic over the John Ringling Causeway was stopped due to demonstrations. Police say traffic resumed around 1:15 p.m.
All protests ended around 3:30 p.m., according to the Sarasota Police Department.