ALDERMEN AND ILLINOIS OFFICIALS CONDEMN CHICAGO COPS FOR SAVING COLUMBUS STATUE

Chicago Columbus statue protest: Elected officials, activists condemn CPD actions after Grant Park rally escalates, some hospitalized

 

WLS 

July 18, 2020

 

CHICAGO -- Chicago officials and activists condemned the actions of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the police department after a rally escalated Friday night.

Chicago police clashed with protesters near the large statue of Christopher Columbus in Grant Park Friday evening.

Police deployed pepper spray on crowds attempting to pull down the statue, forcing the crowd to eventually dispersed from the area.

Prior to that moment, protesters were seen throwing bottles and full soda cans at police, while some even shot off fireworks. Multiple officers were reportedly injured, and some were treated at the scene.

The Chicago Fire Department says that at least four members of the crowd were also injured and taken to a hospital in good condition.

Several were arrested at the scene.

Protesters had initially gathered by Buckingham Fountain for a Black Lives Matter demonstration at around 5 p.m.

The crowd grew to several hundred before making their way to the Columbus statue, which the city had apparently covered in plastic.

The crowd tied at least two ropes to the statue to try to pull it down.

At that point, police tactical units arrived, deploying pepper spray. Several people, both protesters and police, were overcome by the chemical, pouring water into their eyes.

Police were still at the scene late Friday evening, while the statue remained upright.

Some members of the Chicago City Council commented on the protest on Twitter.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said, "Black and Indigenous Chicagoans and people from all across the city came together to do what our so-called progressive mayor refused and failed to do."

Ald. Daniel La Spata said, "Chicago may be the only 'liberal' city willing to brutalize Black and brown youth to protect a symbol of white supremacy."

 

At 9 a.m., several aldermen and Illinois officials gathered to condemn CPD's response to the protest.

"Social media and press reports from Friday night confirmed that SWAT buses, pepper spray, and press suppression resulted in severe injuries to young protestors," a statement said.

United Working Families members Alderman Carlos Rosa, Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, state Rep. Delia Ramirez, state Sen. Robert Peters, and Democratic Nominee Lakesia Collins planned to attend. Supportive elected officials who are unable to attend include Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, Ald. Daniel La Spata, and Ald. Jeanette Taylor, the statement said.

Participating organizations include Black Youth Project 100, Black Lives Matter Chicago, Chi-Nations Youth Council, the Black Abolitionist Network and United Working Families.

The Italian American Human Relations Foundation of Chicago also responded to the protest, saying in part "This was the work of evil minded people. They have been fueled by an educational system too lax in its reliance on a poor curriculum re the education of the legacy of Columbus, and abetted by the majority of the media who refuse to question the baseless revisionist history of the Columbus saga." 

EDITOR'S NOTE: 18 cops were injured.