SJ police defend Cinco de Mayo road closures following 'profiling' accusations

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The San Jose Police Department is defending its decision to close off-ramps for three days around the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Several San Jose politicians criticized police for closing ramps along Highway 101 and Interstate 280 in East San Jose.

They called it racial profiling.

RELATED: 4 SJ councilmembers call out police department for 'profiling' during Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Outrage is coming from state and local leaders toward how San Jose Police Department and Caltrans handled Cinco de Mayo celebrations this year.

On Monday, San Jose's assistant police chief said the closures were similar to previous years.

He said the intention was to control out of towners who come into San Jose to celebrate and create gridlock.

MORE: 'Keep our culture going': South Bay's lowrider community celebrates Cinco de Mayo with pride

The rain didn't put the brakes on the lowriders, or the dancing horses from celebrating Cinco de Mayo in San Jose Friday.

"We're trying to keep the community safe, avoid gridlock traffic, allow businesses to get customers, allow residents to go to and from their homes and allow people to celebrate," said SJ Police Chief Paul Joseph.

Critics say the three-day closures unfairly targeted the Latino community and that other cultural celebrations aren't targeted with similar road closures.

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