Chicago police, protesters clash during bid to topple statue
Source: AP
CHICAGO (AP) Protesters trying to topple a Christopher Columbus statue in downtown Chicagos Grant Park clashed with police who used batons to beat people and made at least a dozen arrests after they say protesters targeted them with fireworks, rocks and other items.
The clash Friday evening unfolded after at least 1,000 people tried to swarm the statue in a failed attempt to topple it following a rally in support of Black and Indigenous people.
Police said 18 officers were injured and at least 12 people were arrested during the clash. Four protesters were also hurt during the confrontation, which led local elected officials and activists to condemn the officers tactics.
We unequivocally condemn Mayor Lori Lightfoots decision to send the Chicago police to beat, arrest, and terrorize the demonstrators and journalists gathered in Grant Park tonight, a group of elected officials said in a statement released late Friday.
Read more: https://apnews.com/6301748f987f7e59367a3afc1705c068
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)and more at police. That's not peaceful, that's a riot.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)ripcord
(5,537 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,339 posts)I lost all respect (what little I had left) for Chicago cops when they got away with blasting Sweet
Home Alabama during a march.
Chicago cops are both instigators and crybabies.
The Magistrate
(95,255 posts)Anyone who is going after a statue at this point is part of the problem, and not helping the situation at all. I expect the police did over-react, they usually do. Anyone volunteering for such treatment over a statue has little ground for complaint.