LAPD: Police firing beanbags at bottle-throwing Trayvon Martin protesters [photos]

Because traffic in L.A. wasn’t backed up enough, people took to the street (or “freeway” to be more precise) to protest the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial:

We are literally walking on the 10 freeway for Trayvon Martin! #NoJustice pic.twitter.com/PZbrMJlp3l

— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) July 15, 2013

Happening now 10 freeway #trayvon -klm pic.twitter.com/q5cjIMkw5Y

— #OccupyLA (@OccupyLA) July 15, 2013

#Breaking: #10Freeway shut down by #JusticeForTrayvon protestord; #LAPD on tactical alert. http://t.co/kpr26YwDNU

— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) July 15, 2013

IDIOTS !RT @rollingingraves: YES. THIS. RT @TheeBeePee The Trayvon Martin rally out here in LA on the 10 freeway pic.twitter.com/LP3FvSznwX

— Gino Whitehall (@PrisonguardGino) July 15, 2013

The freeway has re-opened:

Latest on Trayvon Martin / 10 Freeway protest
–Protesters shut it down for 24 minutes
–No arrests or injuries
–Freeway back open

— L.A. Times: L.A. Now (@LANow) July 15, 2013

However, the demonstrations continue in the area and there are reports that Los Angeles police are firing non-lethal projectiles at the protesters and are planning for mass arrests:

#Breaking: Eyewitness: @jasmyne 26s Not good out here. LAPD is surrounding protestors and shooting rubber bullets at protestors.

— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) July 15, 2013

The scene out here is getting crazy. Almost got hit with rubber bullet. LAPD surrounding us on all sides. No way out right now. Crowd angry.

— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) July 15, 2013

More rubber bullets crowds running

— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) July 15, 2013

It's like running into bullets out here.

— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) July 15, 2013

https://twitter.com/911BUFF/status/356598334552682496

#BREAKING: Protesters report LAPD officers are firing rubber bullets into crowd. http://t.co/JaZRnnz5sW

— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 15, 2013

NEW PIC: Protester says she was shot in the face & chest w/rubber bullets in Los Angeles –@KHOLMESlive #trayvonmartin pic.twitter.com/THBAwFItaU

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) July 15, 2013

The LAPD has confirmed that its officers are firing bean bags at protesters because some of them are throwing bottles and other things:

BREAKING: Demonstrators protesting Zimmerman verdict have shut down part of SB 110 Fwy in L.A. Reports of bottles being thrown – @CBSLA

— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) July 15, 2013

#BREAKING: LAPD confirms officers shooting protesters with bean bags, says protesters are throwing bottles at police. http://t.co/6fcD3ceoUI

— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 15, 2013

BREAKING LAPD tells @anblanx some demonstrator threw rocks and D-cell batteries at police, who responded by firing less-than-lethal rounds

— L.A. Times: L.A. Now (@LANow) July 15, 2013

Update: New photos are being tweeted of traffic being blocked in Los Angeles:

Photo: Trayvon Martin demonstrators blocking traffic in Los Angeles (KABC) – pic.twitter.com/np44PWOly7

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) July 15, 2013

KTLA news van surrounded:

Photo: Protesters surround a news van for Los Angeles TV station KTLA (KABC) – pic.twitter.com/qSDfRu8HeN

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) July 15, 2013

Update II: The protest spread:

Santa Monica and La Brea intersection shut down by protesters… #trayvon #losangeles #protest https://t.co/kZiDwilpaD

— Nathan Marshall (@saynathaniel) July 15, 2013

Decided to come out and capture some epic footage of this protest on la brea and Santa Monica http://t.co/ag8ifqIYKC

— Marcus Turner (@BenMarcEnt) July 15, 2013

https://twitter.com/aydasafa/status/356630450569113600

Twitchy will monitor this story and bring you updates as the situation warrants.