CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Protesters who got into altercations with Chicago police Saturday night claim officers were the aggressors.
Members of the group GoodKids MadCity shared their stories with reporters outside the 2nd District Chicago police station at 51st Street and Wentworth Avenue on the South Side while officers lined up nearby.
GoodKids MadCity is a youth activism organization aimed at ending gun violence around the city.
Jasmine Martin said protesters –- some who were wearing flip flops — were met by police in riot gear and insisted demonstrators weren't looking to fight with police.
Another protester who went by Naira described the scene of a large group of officers coming down the street as Armageddon and defending protesters carrying umbrellas as ways to protect themselves from pepper spray.
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Chicago police have accused protesters of using umbrellas to hide projectiles or other objects to use against officers. Police released a less than 2-minute video Sunday morning that showed an officer being struck in the head by someone swinging a skateboard during the demonstration.
Police said some used pepper spray against officers and protester video showed police using pepper spray on them. Several protesters said police used a practice known as kettling to surround them and not allow them to leave.
