Detroit Protesters block bridge traffic

Residents of southwest Detroit and members of Occupy Detroit stopped truck traffic to the Ambassador Bridge Thursday as they protested the business practices of bridge owner Matty Maroun.

The Detroit News reports that dozens of people formed a human chain in front of the truck entrance to the bridge.

They chanted slogans and hoisted signs to show their opposition to what they call elite business interests blocking a second span that could bring more jobs to the region.

“This shows how much people are really beginning to be fed up with this 1 percent,” said the Rev. Charles Williams II, pastor at Detroit’s historic King Solomon Baptist Church and a leader with Good Jobs Now who joined the protest.

Last week, amid intense lobbying by Maroun, a state Senate committee blocked legislation that would authorize Michigan to work with Canada to create the New International Trade Crossing — a publicly owned bridge that would connect freeways between Detroit and Windsor.

Gov. Rick Snyder and business and labor groups support the new bridge and say that it will bring construction jobs and strengthen trade.

Mlive reports that there were no arrests at the demonstration which blocked traffic for nearly an hour.

“They have the right to protest,” Detroit Deputy Police Chief James Tolbert said at the scene. “We’re working with them to keep everyone safe and get these trucks moving when we can.”