Photos: Multiple Arrests In Massive Anti-Trump March Through Loop, On LSD

By aaroncynic in News on Jan 21, 2017 2:19AM

By Aaron Cynic and Stephen Gossett

Following a day of protests in Chicago and elsewhere in response to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, thousands of Chicago protesters marched through the Loop and twice on Lake Shore Drive Friday evening.

Chicago police have made multiple arrests during the protests, which began at 5 p.m. and continued for hours. Moods varied widely throughout the night, with instances of protesters dancing in front of Trump Tower, scuffles with police and one woman who was hit by a vehicle on the corner of Lake and Michigan that tried to drive through the crowd, which later sped off. At least two bank windows were smashed in at the same corner.

A Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering the protest Tweeted that he was punched in the chest:

Adam Stefanoff, 27, of Pilsen, told Chicagoist he witnessed a man hit by police at least once with a baton after protesters attempted to push east through a blockade at Michigan and Monroe as a fire truck was pulling up to reinforce the barricade. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, a thin line of bicycle police tried to keep demonstrators from spilling on to Michigan Avenue, even though dozens were already in the intersection. A small scuffle broke out as protesters pushed their way past the line, with one arrest made.

After crowds moved east down Monroe, a man who was carrying a flare in front of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute was tackled violently and struck with bicycles by police, according to witnesses. Video below shows the tense aftermath between protesters and police.

The mood was festive at times, however. By 5:30 p.m., several hundred people had already gathered near Wacker and Wabash avenues, across from Trump Tower. A brass band performed near a police blockade early in the night, playing a dirge and the ‘Imperial March’ from Star Wars, among other cuts.

A short time after, Black Lives Matters speakers addressed the crowd, speaking out for racial justice and transgender rights, before a speech culminated in a full-crowd middle-finger salute toward Trump Tower.

“I’m here fighting for equality," Armando Ramirez, 36, of Back of the Yards, told Chicagoist. "We have to continue to make our voices heard. People may criticize us, but we can’t be silent,” he said, sporting a large sign inspired by Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” poster.

Protesters again took Lake Shore Drive later in the evening, with others marching back through the Loop. As crowds have grown smaller, tensions between police and protesters became higher, with police making several more arrests. Demonstrators responded by having a sit in at the corner of Madison and Canal where they took place.

This post has been updated.