Black Lives Matter protest briefly closes Exposition Boulevard off-ramps

Continued protests over alleged police brutality led to the brief closure Saturday afternoon of the northbound and southbound off-ramps of the Capital City Freeway at Exposition Boulevard.

A demonstration organized on Facebook by Black Lives Matter Sacramento took place on Exposition Boulevard, coinciding with the second and final day of the High Times Cannabis Cup, a music and marijuana festival at Cal Expo.

The demonstration was in protest of the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark, 22, on March 18 by Sacramento police, as well as the death of Ryan Ellis, a parolee who died after jumping out of a moving Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department patrol car a year ago.

The California Highway Patrol briefly closed both off-ramps toward the end of the demonstration. The ramps re-opened about 4:45 p.m.

Racing fans also gathered at the Clubhouse at Cal Expo to watch and wager on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

The California Highway Patrol closed both off-ramps as a safety precaution, according to Caltrans.

This story was originally published May 5, 2018 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Black Lives Matter protest briefly closes Exposition Boulevard off-ramps."