A city employee in Boston is without a job after participating in protests Thursday that crippled traffic on I-93.
Nelli Routsalainen appeared before a judge Thrusday. She is one of seven men and four women arrested - some while chained to barrels of concrete - blocking traffic on I-93 northbound.
Charges against her include obstructing an emergency vehicle and trespassing.
The mayor's office says Routsalainen had a three-month contract with the city, working with the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment. They say she was out on an unpaid personal day at the time of the protests.
Following a city hearing Friday, the recommendation was made that she be terminated. The office says the decision was made not based on her protesting, but due to the public safety concerns to which those protests led.
"Mayor Walsh strongly respects the right to protest and the right to free speech, however finds it unacceptable for a city employee to put public safety at risk," said the office in a statement Saturday.
According to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, the protesters blocked access to all area Level One trauma centers for the entire South Shore.
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But Routsalainen's termination is garnering mixed reactions from the public.
"I basically think that it's freedom of speech, and I think she was just using her right," said Emma Dunn of Boston.
"I wonder if there's any way for her to appeal that or discuss that further, especially because she took a day off that day," said Ashley Tenn of Boston.
"I think they did make the right decision, but it's also a freedom of speech thing. I think protesters had a right, but if they did it in a more safe way," said Ben Long of Boston.
Routsalainen has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been released on personal recognizance.
At least one ambulance had to divert away from a Boston hospital due to snarled traffic as a result of the protest.
