Taste of Chicago Wasn't 'Shut Down' But the Magnificent Mile Was [Update: 12:30 AM]

Update 12:20 a.m. Sunday

Chicago, IL — Under the specter of five Dallas police officers slain by a lone sniper as they monitored a Black Lives Matter march Thursday night, Chicago police officers walked alongside protesters throughout the day Saturday, from the Taste of Chicago festival to the Magnificent Mile to Trump Tower.

At times, they engaged cordially with the demonstrators, even helping them enter the Taste of Chicago to draw attention to police mistreatment of black citizens, motivated by the deaths of two black men this week at the hands of police in Minnesota and Louisiana.

The march and protest largely was peaceful, albeit large, as the Magnificent Mile was shut down for traffic during the evening. Demonstrators disrupted the Taste of Chicago but did not "shut down" the Taste as promised.

About a dozen protesters were taken into custody, reportedly, after scuffles with police. This figure will be updated Sunday. An initial group of marchers numbering about 150 to 200 in mid-afternoon swelled by evening to several hundred. Some on the scene estimated there were as many as 1,000 demonstrators on the streets.

Throughout the evening, Patch updated the progress of the demonstrations in Chicago.

Update 10:36 p.m.

As night fell, some protesters began shouting at police angrily, trying to agitate with insults and speeches. In one exchange, a shirtless young man tells police they should draw their guns and shoot him the street. In another, posted to Twitter by Grace Wong, on the scene for the Chicago Tribune, three protesters shout in the faces of Chicago police officers and one officer flaps his fingers in return in a "yapping" gesture.

In a report published Friday, police officers told the Tribune they believe the city does not have their backs. Morale among the rank-and-file is very low.

"We have to go down and protect protesters, and these are the same people that say '(Expletive) the police' and spit on you," a veteran South Side officer told the Tribune. "Rarely do you come to work and feel like you make a difference."

At Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road late Saturday, several people were reportedly arrested.

Update 10:18 p.m.: Around 10 p.m., demonstrators began scuffling with police again. Police say at least three people have been arrested during the day in what for the most part has been a peaceful day of protest.

Update 9 p.m.

Update: 8:25 p.m.: Protesters demonstrating against police actions seen as brutal and in violation of civil rights gather outside Trump Tower in Chicago and ask police officers: "Who do you protect, who do you serve?" in a chant Saturday evening.

The large demonstration up and down Michigan Avenue and State Street also took protesters to the Chicago Water Tower.

One protest Saturday began as a planned effort to "shut down" the popular Taste of Chicago festival. The "shut down" didn't happen, although demonstrators entered the Taste of Chicago under the watchful eye of police, but other protests unfolded downtown, too.

There also was a tussle with police during the march along Michigan Avenue before sunset.

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Update 8:10 p.m.: Police on bicycles and foot are following protesters down Michigan Avenue. The demonstrators made their way to the Chicago Water Tower. While there is a large police presence, the protesters are not being impeded and are marching up and down Michigan Avenue.

The protesters have not yet delivered on their promise to "shut down" the Taste of Chicago.

Update: 7:15 p.m.: Protester gets into argument with bystander.

Update 5:40 p.m.: More than 100 demonstrators have entered the Taste of Chicago event Saturday to protest police brutality. The protest seems to be moving along smoothly, and journalists on the scene report the group is moving deeper into the event and there is an increased police presence.

Some activists are staging a die-in at the event.

Update 3:40 p.m.: Demonstrators have begun entering the Taste of Chicago event.

Protesters marching through the event can be heard saying, "Hands up, don't shoot."

Initial Report, 10:30 a.m.

Chicago, IL — Demonstrators protesting police brutality plan to "shut down" the popular Taste of Chicago festival on Saturday.

As of Saturday morning, more than 700 people said on the "Taste of Chicago Shutdown" Facebook page that they will participate in the protest. More than 1,500 people said they are "interested" in participating.

Local activist Ja'Mal Green told DNAinfo Chicago the protest will precede a 30-day campaign that starts Monday to keep black spending with black-owned businesses.

"There should be no peace until we have equality and justice, and we’re treated as human beings and not animals in every part of Chicago," Green told DNAinfo.

The protest was set to begin at 4 p.m. Central Time. Demonstrators plan to meet at the parking garage at 325 S. Michigan Ave.

Reaction posted to the Taste of Chicago Shutdown Facebook page has been varied:

"What does shutting down the Taste have to do with your cause? Those are regular everyday ppl trying to enjoy the day with their family" — Tina Marie Rivera

"Never been to the taste n now I gotta change my plans. Thanks a lot. Y'all have fun." — Martrise Hall

"Hard Working People trying to make a couple of extra bucks and Not so hard working people going to stop that from Happening...Give Me a Break..And please go and get jobs of your own Folks" — Carole Krutilla

"Judging by the number of whiny, spoilt, degenerate white men who are here screaming and bawling, this is an excellent idea. HOW DARE we have the audacity to force them to wait a few minutes longer to get their artisinal grilled cheese just to force them to acknowledge the fact that black people are being hunted and killed for sport and to maintain their privilege." — Jenji Learn

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Brian Warner, of Chicagopolicesurvivors.org, told CBS 2 Chicago he thinks this approach is a bad idea. More than 1.4 million people visited last year's Taste of Chicago over the course of the five-day event.

“I think you will taint the message,” he said.

Demonstrations have taken place across the country in response to recent police killings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. In Chicago, activists shut down the Dan Ryan Expressway for a while, marched on Michigan Avenue, and staged a die-in in front of President Obama's Hyde Park home. In New York City, 42 activists were arrested as demonstrators marched from Midtown Manhattan into Harlem. The same day in Dallas, a mostly peaceful protest erupted in violence when five police officers were killed in a sniper attack.

For more, see details on the Taste of Chicago Shutdown Facebook page.

Image via Facebook

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