Protesters gather after police shooting video released
CHICAGO (WLS) -- After four hours of marching through the streets, at least three people were arrested Tuesday night during demonstrations following the anticipated release of a video showing a Chicago police officer shooting a black teenager.
The group started with about 100 people, but grew to more than 200 people as they marched from South Halsted starting at about 6 p.m. The crowd moved east along Roosevelt Road, headed north toward Millennium Park and then south toward District 1 police station in the South Loop.
During most of the march, police officers - many on bicycle -- did their best to stop traffic to allow protesters to move through the streets, sometimes marching in both lanes of traffic. Fr. Michael Pfleger also joined marchers.
Shortly after 10 p.m. when the crowd stopped at Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt, officers physically removed some protesters.
In a second altercation, at about 7:15 p.m., it appeared that a fight broke out between protesters and police on Balbo, east of Michigan Avenue. It appeared that two individuals were taken into custody and one officer may have been injured.
The small group that started at 6 p.m. grew slowly. By the time the time the group arrived at South State Street at about 6:30 p.m., police vehicles were in tow. At State Street, the group chanted "16 shots" and joined hands to create a giant circle blocking all traffic at that intersection.
At about 7 p.m., the group moved northbound on Michigan Avenue toward the Loop, blocking traffic in both lanes at some points.
Shortly before 8 p.m., the group again stopped at Congress and State to form a circle in the intersection before continuing to move southward.
The group, which is not talking to the media, consists mostly of young people started at a community center on the Near West Side.
