CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As Democratic delegates and elected leaders prepare for the second day of the party's national convention, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling has provided a clearer picture of the security response around Monday's pro-Palestinian march near the United Center.
Snelling confirmed that officers arrested 13 people after a group of demonstrators tore down part of the metal fence that marked the security perimeter around the convention venue. He said about 3,500 demonstrators participated in the protest.
“I’m not going to tie that event — what happened with the breach — to the entirety of that protest because within that protest, we had people who simply wanted to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Snelling said Tuesday. “Those people broke off and started marching when that group of individuals stayed behind and breached the fence.”
He disputed allegations that activists had been roughed up by the police. Snelling said two of the 13 people who were taken into custody were hospitalized, but not because they were assaulted by police.
“Anytime we take someone into custody, if they're on medication or need medication, we make sure they get that.” he said. “What we did as a police agency was make sure that they got to the hospital, so they could be provided the treatment that they needed.”
Matthew McLoughlin, with the National Lawyers Guild Chicago, begged to differ.
“People were taken to a hospital last night unrelated to their needs for medication,” he said.
McLoughlin added that at least one demonstrator was hospitalized Sunday night after being assaulted by Chicago police.
“It does seem like the Chicago Police Department is being much more aggressive with protesters during the Democratic National Convention than what we've seen in the last several months,” he said.
Snelling said that he “couldn't be more proud of how the Chicago Police Department responded” on Monday night.
“We put on display the training and the preparation that we’ve engaged in for over a year now,” he said. “That being said, moving forward, we do expect to see more protests, more demonstrator tactics. Again, we’re up to the challenge. The city is up to the challenge, and it’s not just CPD, it’s everyone.”
Chicago police and its federal partners have since fortified the area of the breach, which Snelling said should keep a similar breach from happening again. Videos on social media showed crews working to add more fencing to the area.
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