CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It was a busy afternoon for Chicago Police, supporters of police, and critics as a demonstration in support of police was met by counter-protestors downtown near the now-removed Columbus statue.
The Back the Blue protest started around 2 p.m. and brought several pro-CPD supporters and Republican Italian-American supporters. Many were not wearing masks and held American flags and signs that said, “Pritzker sucks," "Lightfoot is a Communist," and “John Catanzara for Mayor 2023.”
Speakers included Republican candidate for State’s Attorney pat O’Brien and Catanzara, Mark Curran, candidate for U.S. Senate, Sergio Giangrande, head of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, among others.
“About eight days after the mayor said that statue was not coming down, 52 of our officers were hurt defending that statue and then she goes and spits on her face less than a week later and lets them take it down anyway,” Catanzara told WBBM. “It’s ridiculous.”
“The whole reason why we are here is we want them to be held accountable and they are not,” one protester said.