Video Shows Chicago Cops Dragged, Then Protected By Protesters

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago was one of the many U.S. cities to see protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. In Chicago, videos and photos showed protesters clashing with police — and one incident in which some demonstrators formed a circle to protect officers who were seen being dragged by other protesters.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said dozens of officers were injured, including one who suffered broken bones.

"We don't have an ongoing count (of injured officers). We do have one officer with broken bones — I will tell you that's pretty serious — others who have had minor injuries, but it's ongoing and ... this crowd is increasingly more mean-spirited and violent," he said.

In a video shared by TMZ, protesters "swarm" two officers who appeared to be detaining a demonstrator and begin a physical altercation, even dragging one of the officers "a good 7 or 8 feet." But then other protesters step in.

"It was other protesters that jumped in to finally break it up and actually form a protective circle around the 2 policemen," TMZ reported.

With looting at Target stores in places including Minneapolis, the company announced it was shutting down seven Chicago locations, saying, "We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country. At this time, we have made the decision to close a number of our stores. We anticipate most stores will be closed temporarily. Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal." These Chicago stores are closed:

• Hyde Park
• McKinley Park
• South Loop
• State Street
• Streeterville
• Wilson Yard
• West Loop

Meanwhile, downtown Chicago grew quiet after two days of sometimes violent protests, as business owners began to clean up and boarded up broken windows. ABC Chicago reported many convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and clothing stores had smashed windows and graffiti scrawled on the building.

Chicago police reported "mass arrests" in the wake of the unrest.

On Saturday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a citywide curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice. The curfew does not apply to essential workers.

"We're going to give people space," she said during a news conference, but added, "We won't tolerate lawlessness." Just before 8:30 p.m., Lightfoot said she was giving demonstrators "ample notice" to go home before the curfew began.

A half-hour after the curfew took effect, the city of Chicago tweeted, "In order to comply with the curfew, you must be on the way home. If you are in the Loop, you may exit on foot via the LaSalle Street bridge or any direction south. @CTA buses and L stations are open and running outside of the Loop."

Metra was shut down for the night, CTA service was halted in the Loop and interstate ramp closures were in effect.

Hours after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday, demonstrators took to the streets of Chicago, starting out with a small rally in Millennium Park that grew in size as the day went on.

Thousands of people returned to the streets Saturday in the Loop, gathering at Federal Plaza before marching to Trump Tower. Video from the scene showed some demonstrators atop police vehicles

A brawl between police and protesters erupted between State and Kinzie, WGN reported, and looters struck Macy's on State Street.

Officers struck protesters with batons near Trump Tower and squad cars were damaged, with at least one set on fire, according to an AP report.

Saturday night, the ACLU of Illinois responded to the curfew, calling it "broad" and "vague" and urging Lightfoot to reconsider it.

"The Mayor’s summary announcement of a potentially indefinite curfew tonight for the entire City — with hundreds of people trapped in the Loop — raises serious constitutional questions that need to be remedied," Executive Director Colleen Connell said in a statement. "Any curfew must be limited to the specific places in the City where there is imminent threat of danger or harm, not the entire City."

The FBI issued a statement in response to the clashes in Chicago, saying, "The FBI is aware of the situation in downtown Chicago and working with law enforcement partners to protect our citizens and restore order to our community. The FBI takes its responsibility to protect the civil rights of all people seriously and encourages the public to report civil rights violations at fbi.gov/tips."

CTA service in the Loop was disrupted due to the protests, and Illinois State Police closed inbound Interstate 290 and the Ohio and Ontario street feeder ramp. Shortly after 4 p.m., Chicago police closed both directions of Lake Shore Drive. Around 4:30 p.m., officials raised the bridge over the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue restrict the movement of the protesters.

On Friday, demonstrators were reportedly arrested after windows were smashed and protesters clashed with police in Chicago's Loop.

The Chicago Tribune reported that windows of several Loop businesses, including an Old Navy and Champs sporting goods store, were smashed, and garbage cans and flower pots were toppled over.

Police told the Tribune the windows on several vehicles were damaged.

A total of 108 demonstrators were arrested Friday, according to ABC Chicago.

• Mayor Lightfoot: Message To Trump 'Starts With F And Ends With U'
• Black Lives Matter Rally For George Floyd In Joliet Draws Crowd
  
• Dear Minneapolis: Don't Let George Floyd Murder Probe Stay Secret
• George Floyd Death: Former Cop Derek Chauvin Charged With Murder

Late Friday, a crowd also gathered outside Trump Tower in Chicago, with marchers carrying signs and chanting in support of Floyd. Demonstrators took over some city streets, briefly shutting down the Eisenhower Expressway, ABC Chicago reported.

Earlier in the day, Chicago thanked protesters "for ensuring a peaceful demonstration" in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.

The Chicago demonstrations were among dozens of protests that erupted Friday across the country, along with protests in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Denver, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

White House Briefly Locked Down Amid George Floyd Protests

Floyd, 46, died Monday after being stopped by Minneapolis police investigating a reported forgery. Video from the scene showed Chauvin kneeling on a handcuffed Floyd's neck as Floyd cried out, saying he couldn't breathe.

Chauvin, 44, was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

For live updates on the unrest in Chicago, follow CBS Chicago.

Protesters have surrounded an occupied CPD wagon and are jumping on, begging, and spray paint it. #chicagoprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/IsCMDl9Hqx
— Tony Ho Tran (@TonyHoWasHere) May 30, 2020

Protesters have surrounded an occupied CPD wagon and are jumping on, begging, and spray paint it. #chicagoprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/IsCMDl9Hqx
— Tony Ho Tran (@TonyHoWasHere) May 30, 2020