Chicago police arrested 24 people after a protest turned violent in the Loop on Saturday evening. Four of the arrests are for felonies, the department said in a statement. Seventeen police officers are being treated for injuries that are not considered life-threatening, CPD said.
The march and rally proceeded peacefully until a group of people within the protesters began battling with police near the intersection of Michigan and Wacker shortly before 6 p.m. As of 8 p.m., some CPD units were being released from the area, as the uprising wound down.
Altercation between police and protesters on Michigan and Wacker pic.twitter.com/CznXvUTC9W
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) August 15, 2020
In a flashback to the July 17 Christopher Columbus statue protest, Saturday’s stand-off escalated after members of the crowd donned ponchos, goggles, and umbrellas for protection and cover.
CLASHES IN THE LOOP
— Steven Graves (@StevenGravesTV) August 16, 2020
Just witnessed this as people and police were seen rustling with umbrellas, bikes. Mace also came out. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/tat2vxclb0
Video posted to Twitter showed a man beating a helmet-wearing cop with a skateboard. Officers fought back, and pepper-spray was deployed, according to witnesses. The person who posted the video deleted it because he did not want the footage to “bring harm or retaliation” to protesters. However, the video has since reappeared on Facebook and Dropbox.
Things just got really violent really quick when police rushed the protester line. #ChicagoScanner #ChicagoProtests pic.twitter.com/YVKLm5Bmc4
— Paige Fry (@paigexfry) August 16, 2020
Officers spoke of a cop who may have suffered a broken arm on police radio transmissions. Other officers said police were pepper-sprayed by members of the crowd.
Kettled.#ChicagoProtests pic.twitter.com/tXkrksEkQp
— Dominic Gwinn (@DominicGwinn) August 16, 2020
Police also reported that members of the crowd stole some officers’ bodyworn cameras, possibly after the devices fell off during melees. At least two cameras were recovered, resulting in at least one arrest.
Everyone’s neighborhood#ChicagoProtests pic.twitter.com/LDADdx5v42
— Dominic Gwinn (@DominicGwinn) August 16, 2020
Videos posted online show SWAT teams deploying pepper-spray at least twice.
The clashes. Keep. Happening.
— Steven Graves (@StevenGravesTV) August 16, 2020
Media being kept back, but you can see bike after bike being thrown out of crowd. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/nndYru8K08
This story is continuing to develop. CWBChicago will post updates as warranted.
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