Black Lives Matter protesters block downtown S.F. streets

A group of several hundred young Black Lives Matter protestors took to the streets of San Francisco Saturday afternoon, closing down several roads, a freeway on-ramp and a downtown shopping center.

The gathering prompted police officials to close off the nearby ramp to Interstate 80 at Fifth and Bryant streets for around 30 minutes.

The group then moved north, reaching Market Street at about 3 p.m. The march prompted several street closures along the way and causing a temporary shutdown of the Westfield San Francisco Centre as the crowd gathered at Fifth and Market to chant slogans and make speeches.

At 3:45 p.m. speakers stood in the center of the intersection of Fourth and Market streets surrounded by protestors waving signs, curious shoppers and vigilant police officers.

By 4 p.m. the protesters were south on Third Street through stopped traffic, with police officers walking along close by.