Top cop defends aggressive police action in Chicago
CHICAGO — Chicago’s police superintendent defended his officers’ actions during weekend clashes with protesters, saying Monday they continued to act professionally in the face of a “concerted effort” by those in the crowd trying to provoke a violent confrontation with police.
Video footage shows some in the crowd donning gas masks, changing clothes to hide their identities and putting up umbrellas, a tactic seen at recent protests that is meant to shield from view people throwing projectiles at officers, Superintendent David Brown said.
“From what I saw, they only took appropriate action when confronted with violence,“he said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the department’s response to Saturday evening’s protest that turned into a clash between demonstrators and police officers, saying officers quelled the violence quickly to protect peaceful protesters.
But a number of activists and lawmakers have condemned the officers’ actions, saying the officers were the aggressors.
“We would like to see an apology from the mayor’s office and the Chicago Police Department … for the violence they used to attack Chicago residents,” Berto Aguayo, executive director for Increase The Peace, told the Chicago Tribune.
Brown said police made 24 arrests and that four of those arrested were charged with felonies.
Prior to Monday’s news conference, the department released a video that showed a man striking an officer with a skateboard. The move was part of a broader effort to publicize what happened during the protest and during Aug. 10 looting in downtown Chicago.
The department, which created what it called a Looting Task Force, announced last week that it was posting videos in the hopes that people would recognize those who smashed store windows and made off with merchandise.
One of the first videos posted was of two men breaking into an ATM with a hammer. That video led to the arrest of a local man who police say livestreamed the crime. Arron Neal, 20, has been charged with felony counts of criminal damage to property and burglary.
At the same time, police have been releasing a flurry of news releases that include photographs of people who took part in the looting and mug shots of people who were arrested for allegedly doing so — a signal that the department is trying to make good on the mayor’s vow to track down and arrest those who take part in street violence.