Photos: 5 Arrested After Chicago Protesters Block Traffic, Shout 'F*ck Trump'

By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 10, 2016 3:22PM

“Everybody knows he’s a pompous ass,” said one protester at Wednesday night’s mammoth demonstration against President-elect Donald Trump.

Thousands of fellow protesters, in apparent total agreement, flooded the streets from the evening through early Thursday morning, to make their displeasure boomingly loud and crystal clear. Protesters gathered before 5 p.m. and lingered well past midnight.

Several massive crowds formed on Wacker Drive, across the river from Trump Tower, which was blockaded off by police barricade. Marchers pushed forth through downtown, crisscrossing up and down State Street and Michigan Avenue. We witnessed a massive stream of protesters march northbound up Lake Shore Dr., from Monroe all the way to Grand, before it circled south down the Magnificent Mile and back toward Trump Tower.

Some stalled motorists look on, stern-faced, but dozens more along the protest line honked and cheered the demonstrators on. Countless onlookers downtown, on the Near East Side and in the South Loop voiced support for the passing anti-Trump marchers.

Chants of “Fuck Trump,” “Sí, se puede,””Not my president,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Make America gay again” and countless others rang through the streets.

“It’s important to show the country and the world that we know this is not OK,” said Amanda Foster, 22.

We witnessed people climbed atop stopped-in-traffic CTA buses and protesters perched on bus shelters, plus some “Fuck Trump” graffiti. But the demonstration was overwhelmingly peaceful and non-violent.

When the mood was tense at one point—as mounted officers jostled protesters who pressed toward a police barricade on Wabash, near Wacker Dr.—friction was suddenly eased when protesters arrived with a speakers and music, transforming the scene into a brief dance party.

Five people were arrested in total, a police spokesman told Chicagoist via email. The arrests were for obstruction of traffic in roadway, reckless conduct, criminal trespass to land and resisting arrest, police said.

Meanwhile, in front of Trump Tower, Izzy Steel, 23 and Dylan Jenning, 22 from Edgewater were holding signs that simply red "love" and giving hugs to anyone passing by who might want one.

"There's so much hatred going on right now and I don't want to hate because of this man," said Steel. I want to love each other and it's through unity we stand together, not division. He doesn't deserve the kind of hatred we give each other - hate him, but not each other."

The couple - who both said they voted for Hillary Clinton and were both disappointed at the results and horrified that Trump was chosen to represent America to the rest of the world were later joined by their friend Kevin, also from the north side, who said the group was passing out hugs to try to create a sense of unity in a time of division.

"I thought tonight...I was really upset and wanted to channel it into something positive," he said.

"Last evening, citizens across the country exercised their First Amendment rights in response to the November 8 election," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in a statement. "These demonstrations make evident the deep level of polarization and divisiveness that exists in our country and underscores the need for leadership that promotes unity. The fate of American democracy is at stake.”