Prosecutors have filed criminal misdemeanor charges against 15 demonstrators who blocked downtown Seattle traffic for several hours in May to protest tar-sands oil drilling.
City Attorney Pete Homes this week charged protesters with pedestrian interference and obstruction.
In May, climate activists blocked traffic for several hours by sitting on wooden tipis they built in the middle of the road. The protest was aimed at getting JPMorgan to stop funding new tar-sands projects.
Alec Connon, an organizer with the group 350 Seattle, called the charges absurd and questioned why Holmes is cracking down on peaceful protesters.
Holmes said protesters should expect charges when expensive resources are used to clear them.