Attempt to take down statue in Chicago leads to violence

CHICAGO — Protesters trying to topple a Christopher Columbus statue in this city’s downtown 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 Lightfoot’s 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.

The statement was signed by several members of the City Council, including Alderwomen Jeanette Taylor and Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez and two members of the Legislature — Rep. Delia Ramirez and Sen. Robert Peters.

Lightfoot said Saturday that she “will always fight for the rights of individuals to peacefully protest on any issue” but noted that “a portion of the protesters turned violent” during Friday’s protest.

“A number of individuals came with frozen water bottles, rocks, bottles, cans and other gear to throw at officers. People in the crowd also threw fireworks and other incendiary devices at police, causing injury in several cases. These violent acts are unacceptable and put everyone at risk,” she said in a statement.

The mayor said reports of excessive force by officers during their response to the protest “are also unacceptable” and urged anyone who believes that they were mistreated by police to file a complaint with the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or by dialing 311.

Local news site Block Club Chicago reported that one protester, an 18-yearold woman, had several of her front teeth knocked out when an officer punched her. It also shared a video of that assault and a photo of the woman’s bloodied mouth and missing teeth. It identified her as Miracle Boyd, a member of the antigun violence group GoodKids MadCity.

Protesters across the county have called for the removal of statues of Columbus, saying the Italian explorer is responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas.