CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Hundreds marched in the Loop on Saturday and, with continued calls for ceasefire in Gaza, organizers commented on the Chicago Police Department’s handling of a disruptive demonstration near O’Hare that led to charges against some protestors.
“All of us say the same thing: ‘The police made a choice that day to escalate; the police made a choice that day to be physical,” said Muhammad Sankari, an organizer with the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and part of the larger Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine. “We demand that those charges be thrown out.”
Sankari spoke to WBBM before this weekend’s march on Michigan Avenue about arrests made during an April 15 demonstration that shut down traffic to O’Hare Airport’s Terminal 1.
After more than six months and dozens of disruptive, yet peaceful protests in the Chicago area, Sankari said it was the Chicago police who now want to build a public perception of criminality around those continuing to make calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In a statement, a Chicago police spokesperson said the department has been focused heavily on training to respond to "large-scale First Amendment activity" in preparation for the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
"We will protect those exercising their constitutional rights, as well as those who are working, living and visiting in the areas of the demonstrations," the statement read. "However, we will also enforce the law, and criminal activity will not be tolerated."
Chicago police arrested charged 40 people with misdemeanors after the O'Hare demonstration.
“They were the ones who pulled batons out,” he said. “They were the ones who pulled batons out. They were the ones who started striking and shoving and dragging people. That’s the reality of what happened on Monday. They made a choice to escalate, and they made a choice to criminalize the protest.”
Three people who were protesting U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas war during a separate April 15 demonstration were charged with felony aggravated battery to a police officer.
Those who marched on Saturday demanded that the U.S. stop providing aid to Israel for its campaign in Gaza.
Simultaneously, in Washington, D.C., a new $95 billion foreign aid package — which includes funding for Israel — was approved by the U.S. House.
The aid package contains $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Multiple lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democratic on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the package’s passage was a historic moment. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said U.S. allies “across the world have been waiting for this moment.”
Democratic Chicago Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, though, called the funding included for Israel “despicable.”
“We gave Netanyahu’s campaign of death full latitude with no oversight,” Ramirez said in a statement.
Sankari said he was “disgusted,” but not surprised with Congressional representatives, who he described as signing blank checks to Israel.
“On one level, we see what’s happening in Gaza,” he said. “Everyone on a very basic level understands what’s happening, I would argue.”
Schumer said the Senate would begin procedural votes on the package this Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok