130 Occupy Chicago protesters were arrested at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning after they attempted to camp in Grant park after closing time.
The protesters were joined by 3,000 people in Chicago earlier in the day as they marched from Federal Plaza in the loop and arrived in Congress Plaza at Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway.
The park which closes at 11 p.m. witnessed 130 people who decided to stay in Congress Plaza while hundreds of other people moved onto the nearby sidewalk which is located just off park district property.
Chicago Police made several announcements about the park closing time and then proceeded to create a barricade around those protesters who chose to stay.
By 2:40 a.m. 130 people had been arrested and a few hundred more remained on sidewalks towards the east and west sides of Michigan Avenue until approximately 3 a.m.
The newest round of arrests follows 175 people who were taken into custody by police last Sunday around the same 1 a.m. time period.
As police led people away early Sunday morning protesters stood on the sidewalk and chanted against the police:
“You serve the 99 percent,” “Whose park? Our park!” and “Why no press? Let the media in!”
Occupy Chicago is part of a larger movement that started as Occupy Wall Street and has since spread to various locations throughout the United States and around the world.
Last week Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke with Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and according to the Chicago Tribune he said he wanted the law department to talk with protesters “to see if we can find a way to go forward so they can continue to express themselves …”
Do you think the protesters should have been allowed to stay in Grant Park or should they have listened to police and simply moved over to the public sidewalks located next to the park?
I think they should be arrested. Most are spoiled babies who are so afraid of work they want everything given to them!
We should be free to protest all we want but was wrong with following rules? if the park closes at 11:00pm…well, moved to the sidewalks, and continued protesting.
Ask 100 of them what they are against and you will get 100 different answers. I respect their right to protest but they are protesting in the wrong location they need to be in front 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. against a POTUS Who has wasted more money on failed programs and a job destroying socialist health care program and growing big Government and a jobs plan that is nothing but a rehash of all the others so move your protest to the White House and you will have it right.i.
They should have been allowed to remain. The Mayor knowing there is a protest needed to bend the rule's, this is major and will become bigger as time goes on. Unfortunately I do not think it will stop here and I think that neither does any Political power in any State where there is a protest. Way too any things happening in this Country to walk away from this one. It's just not about Wall Street anymore, if it ever was. Unfortunately as the old saying goes, "the squeakiest wheel get's the grease" Think the squeaking just started, I do. Also the Police are not in the upper 1 or 2 %.
of the well off, so it behooves them to not join in the protest. The Protestor's are doing the handy work for the Police too, they should be thankful, and after all the protest's have been peaceful.
throw them all in jail, maybe if they tried working they would actually have some money.
Spoiled babies? You are off your effing rocker you spoiled little rich girl. Go back and count your own trustfund while the real citizens of this country march for change and improving the world. Meanwhile, you can sit around and complain about how the chablis is room temperature.
Stop being such stooges! Can't you even READ! These people are protesting the RAPE of our own country. Meanwhile, you are such conservative stooges you can't even see with your own two eyes that the gruel you are being fed is a pack of lies PAID for by politicians bought and sold by the uber rich and corporate elite. Get a job? Really? That's what these people are protesting FOR! IDIOTS!
Bend the rules thats what is wrong with this Country Now lets let them do this and then you have to let everyone live in the park then the crackheads take it over then it does no one any good laws are laws get over it and get used to it they all need to go to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave That is where is protest needs to go to on the doorstep of the Money Wasting Jetsetter Socialist POTUS we have now !
First of alll, you know nothing about me. If you are going to assume things about me by my post guess what I'm going to assume about you by your words and your picture. Rules are rules – follow the law
and work for change through the proper channels.
This ,IS the begining of the end…divide…and conquer.
The law is the law. Change the law if you have a mind to work that, but as long as it is the law, everyone should obey it. Laws are made to protect. If the law is wrong then get busy and change it. Break the law, and you should expect to be arrested. The End.
I assure you that only Lies are being fed to anyone are Bullshit that comes from the mouths of the likes of your Att .General Holder and all the rest who bypass the Constitution of The United States in what will be the Socialist Stares of America if this We as Americans dont wake up
Like about half the Occupy Trash are "Poor little Rich Kids" with 200 dollar designer jeans and " I got my 5000 dollar Mac Stolen" Eating high on the Hog its all probably being paid for by Barry Obama with that Billion Dollars he is raising Improving the World My Ass
Christopher Gill And before now…How soon we forget our own. Bush Administration where all the money was spent and all the problems started. Look at the bigger picture. BTW, not everyone can pick up and go to Washington…money is the issue here.think man, think!! So you work at Sunoco Product's Company, what is your title? As far as the Park, they can make an exception for these protestors. What I see is when there is a protest there are Police officers intentionally creating aggitating situations for the protestors, like herding them onto a bridge and then telling them they should be there and arresting them.. They did it at the war protest in NYC and they have done it at this protest ag. wall street NYC. Obviously they are told to do this and that sort of intimidation should stop. Afterall they are part of the lower middle class too that had money taken from them too. Now Money wasting issue: What Administration didn't waste money?
because the point is civil DIS Obedience! Geez! It's not rocket science. If people stupid unconscious lives aren't not made a little uncomfortable nobody listens and nothing changes!!!!