CHICAGO
(WLS) - Police in
riot gear lined a South Side police station Tuesday night after at least 100
protesters chanted anti-police sentiments and disobeyed police orders during a
three-mile march against alleged global police oppression.
The protesters --
mostly young people in town to protest the NATO Summit dressed in all black
with black bandanas covering their faces -- initially gathered near South
Halsted Street and West 50th Place. They began marching through the
neighborhood about 6:40 p.m. and grew to about 100 people as residents left
their porches to join the march.
By 8 p.m., the
protesters stood outside the Deering District police station at 3501 S. Lowe
Ave. chanting, “What did they say in ’68? A billy club to the f------ head!”
Chicago Police officers in riot gear and on bicycles lined the outside of the
station.
An older man from
the neighborhood got into a scuffle with one of the protesters and suffered an
apparent cut to the head. He was taken inside the station.
Another resident,
23-year-old Ray Jackson, yelled at a protester that the march was a waste of
police resources. The protester yelled back, “You fund NATO. You fund murder.”
The protesters
left the police station by 8:30 p.m. and continued north on Halsted Street to
the Orange Line station.
On their way to
the police station, the protesters chanted “From Chicago to Greece, F--- the
police” and disobeyed bicycle officers ordering them to stay on the sidewalk.
Many residents joined the march or applauded in agreement.
“I’m glad they got
a march because the police are crazy out here,” arearesident Andre Gholston,
46, said. “They come out here roughing us up … sending innocent people to
jail.”
“This is a
solidarity march for people who have been oppressed for years by the police,”
said a 21-year-old Florida man who asked not to be identified. He wore a pin on
his had that said “Occupy Rahm” and carried a flag representing the Anonymous
movement.
Neighborhood
resident Karrean Holmes, 41, was concerned the protest would agitate the gangs
in the neighborhood.
“All you need is
for someone to say they got an issue – because [the gangs] already got issues,”
Holmes said. “And then you can join in, sort of be low key because you are in a
big group that doesn’t identify you as a gang. It’s going to get violent and we
don’t’ need any more violence.”
By 7:45 p.m., the
protestors were near 35th Street and some restaurant owners closed up their
windows as anxious diners looked outside.
One man started
taunting the protesters by chanting “Free Jon Burge,” a reference to the former
Chicago Police commander convicted of torturing suspects for confessions.
Police reported no
arrests. The CTA rerouted Halsted Street buses near 35th Street.