Chicagoans Blocked Traffic In March For Victims Of Police Shootings
By aaroncynic in News on Jul 8, 2016 2:22PM
Hundreds of demonstrators marched in both the Loop and on the South Side after the latest shooting deaths of people of color at the hands of police in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Protesters gathered during rush hour at the Chicago Police Wentworth District headquarters on 51st and Wentworth and then marched through the neighborhood chanting “no justice, no peace,” “fight back,” and “Indict, convict, send the killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell.” Shortly after, hundreds flooded the Dan Ryan Expressway, blocking traffic for about ten minutes.
#ChiCallToAction solidarity protest for #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile heading southbound Wentworth. pic.twitter.com/IUAhXu2kUF
— Tyler LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) July 7, 2016
#ChiCallToAction shutting down the Dan Ryan Expressway for #AltonSterling & #PhilandoCastile | pic.twitter.com/TIuUGsH1O8 via @progressIL
— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) July 7, 2016
"They fear us more than they want to help us," Maurice Smith, who joined the demonstration, told ABC7. "I cried for those two gentlemen that got shot. Even though they may have pasts, they human. They don't deserve to get shot down like animals."
A smaller group of protestors marched through the loop around 5:00 p.m. with similar messages. The group attempted to enter the Taste of Chicago but was blocked. At least three people were arrested.
Anti #PoliceBrutality march in #Chicago: #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling https://t.co/dSyVH8ud8l
— Jorge P. Newbery (@JorgePNewbery) July 8, 2016
The demonstrations came after several graphic videos were posted online this week showing two people of color, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, killed by police. Sterling was shot outside a Baton Rouge convenience store while being held down by officers, and Castile was shot in his car while trying to present police with his identification.