This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A large group people protesting police violence blocked downtown Salt Lake City streets and on and offramps to Interstate 15.

Friday night, they marched in a line, some with their arms locked, and with a large black-and-white banner reading "All cops enforce inequality." The group, identifying themselves as Activist Corner, temporarily lost that banner when a pickup truck broke their line in front of the 600 South offramp, the banner fluttering on the front of the truck as it left.

" 'Til SLC joins the fight, there won't be a silent night," they chanted earlier in the evening. At least several commuters shouted at the protesters throughout the evening, and some protesters struck vehicles as they went through the line.

After covering more than 12 city blocks, none of the protesters appeared to have been arrested.

They did not have a permit for the march, said Salt Lake City police Detective Dennis McGowan, who also confirmed that no Salt Lake City police officers responded, either.

On Nov. 29, another, larger group of protesters decrying police violence blocked the streets of downtown Salt Lake City in a march, with police directing traffic. That march, though, went from the Federal Building to the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building.

This group's intention was also to protest "police brutality" and "the police state," according to the event's Facebook page. Protesters also demanded justice for people recently shot and killed by Utah police officers, including Dillon Taylor, Darrien Hunt, Corey Kanosh and Danielle Willard.

The rally began after 6 p.m. in front of the Salt Lake City Federal Building at 100 S. State St., where speakers decried police shootings and called for changes to law enforcement, the justice system and racial stereotyping. From there, the protesters formed a line and marched south on State Street, a throng of honking drivers stuck behind them.

The protesters marched through intersections and eventually turned west onto 500 South, crossing the TRAX line at Main Street. Beyond that point, one of the protesters warned the crowd over a loudspeaker that they might get arrested if they continue onto the freeway.

With that in mind, they reached the base of the 500 South on ramp to I-15 and Interstate 80 about 7:40 p.m., where they maintained their line and turned to face the commuters. Shortly after, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper arrived, and the protesters moved on to continue south onto 600 West.

UHP Sgt. Mary Kaye Lucas said that troopers had been made aware of the protesters, and wanted to deter them from going onto the freeway.

Once they reached 600 South, the protesters again blocked drivers as they formed their line across the wide road in front of the I-15 offramp. There was some room between the line and the ramp for some drivers to turn off onto 600 West, though a long line of headlights soon amassed along the ramp.

After standing in place for several minutes, the protesters marched east on 600 South, traffic still stuck behind them. By about 8 p.m., the protesters moved onto the sidewalk near 600 S. 300 West and huddled in the parking lot of the Springhill Suites hotel.

The group is planning on another event outside the Ogden Federal Building at 324 25th St. from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda