Some protesters stood side by side in the roadway and blocked vehicles from passing, causing a major backup on the interstate during rush hour.

By 6:20 p.m., Richmond police were on the scene and, after two warnings to move from the road to the grass, several protesters were handcuffed, according to police.

Those who refused to exit the interstate were charged with being pedestrians on a highway and with impeding the flow of traffic. On Monday, the 13 defendants, all represented by the same attorney, were convicted of obstructing free passage of others, punishable by up to a year in jail plus a $2,500 fine.

One by one, the 13 defendants went before Judge Jacqueline S. McClenney and pleaded guilty to obstructing free passage of others. The plea agreement, accepted by all of the defendants, stipulated that each of them would be sentenced to five days in jail and that the count of being pedestrians on a highway would be nolle prossed, or not pursued.

“We were ready to prosecute them to the fullest extent had they not accepted the (plea) offer, and it was a Class 1 misdemeanor they were charged with,” said Powell, noting that he thought five days in jail was a fair resolution, considering that the defendants generally had few prior run-ins with the law.