PROTESTERS CLOG LOOP OVER POLICE-INVOLVED KILLINGS
Protesters clogged traffic in the Loop Saturday night, gathering at Millennium Park and marching through Taste of Chicago and up the Magnificent Mile to cap a day of rallies here and elsewhere following police shootings of African-American men in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and outside St. Paul, Minnesota, and the deadly attack on police by a sniper in Dallas.
In downtown Chicago, the group, including Black Lives Matters activists, began with about 50 people outside Taste at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. They were met by a dozen police officers who wouldn’t let them in the festival with the oversized signs they carried, calling for “Justice for Alton and Philando” — Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, who were killed by police officers in caught-on-video shootings.
“There needs to be more checks and balances on cops, and that’s what the system is lacking,” said Tayla Moore, who was among the protesters.
The protesters ditched their signs and made their way through Taste, as curious onlookers took photos with their cellphones and some join the marchers.
The protesters swelled to more than 200 marchers as they left Taste and began circling the Loop, staging periodic sit-ins at major intersections, including shutting down traffic at Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard.
Greg Tully, a North Sider, got out of his car and watched as the marchers blocked his way south on Michigan Avenue. But he didn’t mind.
“I can wait,” Tully said. “I think this is more important than one person getting somewhere on time.”
The march continued north on Michigan Avenue to the Water Tower. Chicago cops on bicycles tried to corral protesters at the Chicago River but eventually gave ground, letting the marchers pass. Outside of a few testy staredowns, there appeared to be no clashes between protesters and the police. Chris Towers, a 19-year-old from South Shore, said officers treated him and other protesters well.
“They’re doing their jobs. A lot of them are good people,” Towers said, but he added, “We’re out here fighting a system that represses us.”
One police officer, Tony Famiglietti, said he has “no opposition” to the protest.
“As long as it’s peaceful, it doesn’t bother me,’’ the Chicago cop said.
As of 9 p.m., three people had been arrested in the protests, with unspecified charges pending Saturday night.