A group of climate change protesters sat across the inner loop of the D.C. Beltway in Silver Spring, blocking traffic Monday afternoon, Maryland State Police said.
The traffic backup could be seen from a Maryland Department of Transportation camera. The incident happened around noon on northbound I495 near Route 29 in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Just before 2 p.m., the Maryland State Highway Administration said all lanes were reopened along I-495.
Maryland State Police said about 12 to 15 protesters were sitting across the road. Police cleared the road and arrested some of the protesters.
A group called Declare Emergency says they blocked the inner loop as an act of civil disobedience.
"Their demand is for President Biden to immediately declare a national state of climate emergency," the group said in a press release.
Declare Emergency says 13 people were arrested Monday in the DC area.
"The world’s lack of any significant action to prevent the ravages of the impending climate catastrophe is what has led me to take this action. ... disaster is here, and worsening by the day. I choose to not be complicit in the horrible death of this amazing planet. We are far into the 11th hour. It’s time for us all to rise. We have everything to lose," said supporter Deborah Kushner of Staunton, Va.
This comes as a group of truckers has also been blocking traffic around the D.C. area Monday as a part of their protest.