Updated 1:10 p.m.
Dozens of anti-violence demonstrators gathered Monday at the Cumberland Avenue exit to the Kennedy (Interstate 90) to disrupt traffic near O’Hare International Airport, but state police arrested some protesters and no one made it onto the expressway.
Things are winding down. 7-10 folks arrested. It doesn’t look like anyone will make it onto the Kennedy
— Miles Bryan (@miles__bryan) September 3, 2018
A few dozen protestors are planning to walk onto the Kennedy Expressway at about 12pm to protest perceived abandonment of Chicago’s S and W side by city leaders. About the same number of onlookers currently. Maybe twice as many police pic.twitter.com/pFTByaWjQf
— Miles Bryan (@miles__bryan) September 3, 2018
Counter-protesters with pro-police signs were also on the scene, along with Chicago aldermen Anthony Napolitano of the 41st ward and Nick Sposato of the 38th ward. Both groups appeared to be outnumbered by state and local police surrounding the protest area.
Alderman Napolitano and alderman Sposato are here supporting police. “Our crime rate is out of control... this is the fault of the people who don’t want them to be police anymore,” Napolitano said. pic.twitter.com/bUyUXimRQ3
— Miles Bryan (@miles__bryan) September 3, 2018
Rev. Gregory Livingston said Monday’s march was intended to draw attention to protesters’ demands, which include more investment in neighborhoods where the bulk of Chicago’s shootings occur. Livingston has also said he wants Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign and wants community members to have a role in renegotiating the police union’s contract.
Livingston also organized a protest that briefly closed Lake Shore Drive in early August. And in early July, protesters briefly shut down the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Looks like the police were prepared to make more arrests— two big Illinois Department of Corrections buses here pic.twitter.com/xT4LQBNKmV
— Miles Bryan (@miles__bryan) September 3, 2018
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
