Protesters close Interstate highway

MINNEAPOLIS-The Minnesota State Patrol arrested 18 people in St. Paul early Saturday after protesters shut down Interstate 94, furious at the not-guilty verdict for a St. Anthony police officer in Philando Castile’s death.

Large protest demonstrations began around 7 p.m. Friday. At least 2,000 people filled the steps leading to the State Capitol in St. Paul. Protesters then took to the streets, bringing light-rail traffic to a halt. Organizers urged protesters to stay off of nearby Interstate 94, but about 10:30 p.m., about 500 people raced onto it and blocked lanes in both directions.

Passions and tension ran high, but as the night wore on and law enforcement officers slowly herded them off the freeway, many people left.