Commuters turned away as protest closes 4 BART stations

Rush-hour commuters in San Francisco were turned away from BART on Monday evening after authorities shut down four stations amid a protest over alleged brutality by transit agency police.

A portion of busy Market Street was also shut down as crowds moved east, waving placards and shouting "No Justice, No Peace!"

The protest began after 5 p.m. at the busy Civic Center Station, where crowds converged for a demonstration that was sparked, in part, by the shootings of Charles Blair Hill and Oscar Grant by BART police.

Protesters were also angered that the agency cut underground cellular phone service for three hours last week in an effort to quell another protest over alleged BART Police brutality.  Cellphone service was allowed at Monday's demonstration.

Authorities shut down the Civic Center, Montgomery, Powell Street and Embarcadero stations as police responded to quell the protest.

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-- Maria L. La Ganga in San Francisco

Photo: Scene at Civic Center station. Credit: Maria L. La Ganga /Los Angeles Times