BOSTON, MA — Five people were arrested Monday morning after blocking rush hour traffic in the Back Bay neighborhood.
Officers assigned to District D-4 responded to a radio call for protesters gathering in the area of Dartmouth Street and St. James Avenue at approximately 7:44 a.m. on June 8, 2026.
Upon arrival, officers observed a group of individuals gathered in the middle of St. James Avenue obstructing traffic outside a hotel.
Officers observed the busy roadway completely stopped during the morning commute.
Officers further observed a pink sedan parked diagonally in the middle lane of St. James Avenue as well as two pink barrels, one in the left lane and one in the right lane.
Connected to each barrel were two protesters whose hands were interlocked inside a tube within the barrel.
Another protester had her arm interlocked with the two protesters connected to the barrel that was closest to the hotel.
Officers made several attempts to disperse the protesters and reopen the street to the increasingly inconvenienced commuters who were at a standstill.
Several of the protesters complied with officers’ requests to move to the sidewalk, with the exception of the individuals who were connected to the barrels.
Two of the remaining protesters eventually moved to the rear of the pink sedan and placed their arms inside two metal tubes that were welded to the trunk of the vehicle.
With assistance from the Boston Fire Department, officers began the process of releasing the protesters from their respective contraptions.
During this process, a fifth protester interfered with officers and firefighters, placing herself between them and the remaining protesters.
Eventually, all of the protesters were taken into custody.
Officers arrested Laura Honeywood, 45, of West Roxbury; Anna Pancoast, 39, of Arlington; Juliane Manitz, 41, of Chelsea; Jamie McGonagill, 34, of Gainesville, Florida; and Meryl Brott, 57, of Allston.
All suspects are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of unlawful assembly, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Additionally, Pancoast is charged with wrongful interference with operation of a school bus.
