Protesters Block Highway in Cleveland

CLEVELAND (TheBlaze/AP) — Protesters outraged over a police officer's acquittal blocked a highway in Cleveland that runs downtown and along Lake Erie Saturday afternoon.

Protesters standing in the shoreway in Cleveland with their hands up pic.twitter.com/ejHwMeYGVt

— Katharine HB (@katharinehb) May 23, 2015

They formed a line along the highway, blocking traffic in both directions, around 3 p.m. EDT.

The group had originally gathered downtown, then marched through the streets and crossed a bridge.

People protest outside the house of Prosecutor Timothy McGinty in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots May 23, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. After leading police on a 20-mile chase, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams were shot dead after Officer Brelo jumped onto the hood of the car and unleashing a fatal barrage of gunfire. on May 23, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ricky Rhodes/Getty Images)

Earlier in the afternoon, about 200 people gathered for a mock funeral to protest the Saturday acquittal of patrolman Michael Brelo, who had faced manslaughter charges connected to the shooting deaths of two unarmed suspects.

Protestors sing in front of a mock casket for Tamir Rice as people take to the streets in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase in which officers fired 137 shots May 23, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ricky Rhodes/Getty Images)

Dozens of people walked in a peaceful procession carrying a black, plywood coffin and softly singing "I'm going up yonder, we're marching, we're marching."

The protest was held in a park near the home of the Cuyahoga County prosecutor who lost the case against patrolmen Brelo.

Marchers also protested the lack of progress in the investigation of the killing of a 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun by Cleveland police last year.

Some carried signs saying "Will I Be Next?" and "I Can't Breathe" and "Freddie Gray Lynched."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

—

Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter