Dozens were arrested and several were hurt, together with 17 cops as protesters clashed with police Saturday within the Loop.
On Sunday morning, CPD tweeted a video of the conflict with protesters and stated “The next video footage exhibits the preliminary incident that sparked yesterday’s violence and arrests, in addition to the aggravated battery in opposition to a CPD officer with a skateboard. Extra video might be launched all through the day as it’s obtained.”
The next video footage exhibits the preliminary incident that sparked yesterday’s violence and arrests, in addition to the aggravated battery in opposition to a CPD officer with a skateboard. Extra video might be launched all through the day as it’s obtained. pic.twitter.com/oW7Z3oGKSZ
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 16, 2020
In later tweets, police introduced that, “Jeremey Johnson, 25, has been charged with felony aggravated battery to a peace officer after repeatedly putting a #ChicagoPolice officer within the head with a skateboard at yesterday’s downtown protest.”
“The officer, who was carrying a protecting helmet, sustained minor accidents and was handled at an area hospital. This is only one instance of how our #ChicagoPolice officers regularly danger their very own security to guard this metropolis and its residents,” police stated.
Police allege one other man lunged into the police line, resulting in chaos and arrests, and that water bottles and different objects had been thrown at them.
Lightfoot praised metropolis police Sunday for “pretty rapidly” settling weekend protests that devolved into violent skirmishes whereas activists and different elected officers blasted police for unnecessarily aggressive ways.
The day of demonstrations in opposition to police brutality began peacefully Saturday with a march round midday. Later, a separate demonstration close to downtown resulted in two dozen arrests, 17 injured officers and at the least two injured protesters. Not one of the accidents had been believed to be life threatening.
Lightfoot informed CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that agitators “have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceable protests and are available for a battle” although the clashes had been “over very pretty rapidly as a result of our police division is resolved to guarantee that we defend peaceable protests.”
Chicago Police Division Superintendent David Brown stated that some within the group used black umbrellas to make it more durable for police to see them, pushed officers and assaulted them.
On the identical time, activist teams and a few elected officers known as out police for utilizing aggressive ways, together with spraying the group with a chemical irritant and putting protesters with batons.
“The march was peaceable till CPD and different regulation enforcement companies started an all-out assault on protesters,” stated a Sunday assertion from youth activist group Improve The Peace.
Youth-led organizers in assist of #AbolishICE and #Defund CPS had been concerned in Saturday’s protest, together with the Good Children Mad Metropolis motion.
After the violent conflict with police, the organizers have demanded an apology from for Chicago Police Division and Lightfoot’s workplace “for violating our rights to peacefully assemble and for his or her abhorrent assaults on peaceable protestors.”
The group stated Chicago police instigated the violence, and claimed undercover officers had been embedded with protesters.
“We had been outdoors peacefully protesting, and the police attacked us,” Alicia Kamil stated. “We had been strolling away to get to a secure spot, and police pepper sprayed and beat us up and arrested individuals.”
They stated demonstrators didn’t change their appearances, however had been ready for rain and potential pepper spray.
“They arrive out with a baton and pepper spray and Mace, and they’re mad about some water bottles? Mad at umbrellas they usually have bullets?” Kamil stated. “They’ve bullets and they’re mad about throwing water?”
The protesters additionally insisted they sought to take away agitators from their group to maintain the protests peaceable.
“The violence that CPD and regulation enforcement companies created, created the environment for that to occur,” stated Berto Aguayo, of Improve the Peace. “They initiated the assaults and when individuals are combating for his or her lives, individuals are going to do no matter they will to outlive.”
Activist Ja’mal Inexperienced demanded that if protesters had been arrested for violence then CPD officers must be held accountable, too.
“CPD won’t ever present a cop being violent at a protest and maintain them accountable,” Inexperienced stated. “He all the time simply says we are going to examine. So I’ll say the identical factor, we are going to examine the protest and have a look at movies, as effectively.”
Protesters additionally launched their very own video from Saturday’s melee, which exhibits Chicago cops working towards protesters, utilizing a bicycle in what seems to be an try and nook them earlier than a person in all black is pulled down, later being overwhelmed with a baton a number of occasions.
The demonstrator, who needs to stay nameless, alleged officers had been directing their group to disperse however had been nonetheless blocking them in.
A number of Chicago Democrats, together with state Sen. Robert Peters, state Rep. Lakesia Collins and Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, questioned utilizing division cash on such a response to protesters in a metropolis that has had a decrease murder case clearance fee than different large cities.
“We as soon as once more condemn Mayor Lightfoot and Superintendent Brown for his or her use of police drive in opposition to these demonstrators on Saturday night time, and for the continued escalation of surveillance, violence, and detention of protesters,” stated a Sunday assertion from the group.
Chicago police launched extra details about these charged Sunday, together with Nicoline Arlet, 24, of Chicago, who reportedly took a bodycam that had been ripped off an officer. She faces a felony theft cost.
Elena Chamorro, 18, of Chicago was additionally arrested after allegedly battering a uniformed deputy chief of police. She faces a felony aggravated battery cost and a misdemeanor cost of mob motion.
Protesters on the bottom claimed they had been holding a peaceable demonstration.
“We had been at Michigan and Wacker; we wished to go east on Wacker, after which the cops would not allow us to, and there was a motorbike barricade with the protesters and the police,” protester Womyn Surprise stated.
Demonstrators additionally stated some officers threw bikes at them.
Brown stated the day started peacefully on the South Aspect however tensions elevated as protesters moved all through the Loop.
Brown stated “agitators” deployed umbrellas, modified their look and pushed officers, and police “responded proportionately to get the scenario below management.”
Brown stated police did use pepper spray on the group however pressured tear fuel was by no means used.
Twenty 4 individuals had been arrested together with 4 on felony costs, Brown stated.
At the very least one protester might be seen being taken away in an ambulance.
One other protester stated police demanded they empty their belongings and that officers made little to no effort to deescalate the scenario.
WATCH: PROTEST IN LOOP
“The cops began grabbing individuals’s umbrellas and ripping them aside and throwing them into the group of protesters, after which they began beating individuals with their batons,” Surprise stated.
Following the standoff at Michigan and Wacker, the protesters appeared to maneuver again and continued on their march with CPD officers in a line formation following behind.
Extra clashes then broke out between the 2 teams.
“Ultimately they began descending upon us and marching sooner into our rear, they usually began beating individuals on the rear,” Surprise stated.
Police didn’t have instant numbers on what number of protesters had been injured.
“I do have a buddy whose backpack was stolen by police; though he emptied it out for them to have a look at the whole lot they usually took it anyway,” Surprise stated. “For my part what went unsuitable was I simply assume the cops do not know how one can deescalate conditions. They only deliver it to a scary stage.”
The Chicago Workplace of Emergency Administration and Communication stated all streets, bridges and CTA stops downtown Chicago could be accessible Sunday night time into Monday morning. Journey restrictions had been put in place after pervasive looting earlier this week.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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