Protesters arrested as demonstrators block vehicles at key immigration building near Chicago
CHICAGO AP Protesters tried to block vehicles Friday outside a federal immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago leading to a confrontation with functionaries who arrested multiple people and used a chemical agent to disperse the crowd The protest is part of steady pushback against an immigration enforcement surge focused on Chicago and surrounding communities which has put more federal agents on the streets charged with delivering on President Donald Trump s promise of mass deportations The Department of Homeland Prevention stated Friday that almost people have been arrested as part of an operation that launched just under two weeks ago Friday s protest included dozens of people carrying American flags and signs with the words Hands off Chicago Particular participants tried to block a car from exiting the facility s yard and were met with federal officers who deployed chemical agents that published white clouds that drove the protesters back according to videos taken outside the U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview about miles kilometers west of Chicago The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild which provided legal observers for Friday s protest noted at least people were arrested by federal agents They also stated that particular people were injured and required hospitalization according to Brad Thomson an attorney with the guild Our legal observers saw less-lethal force such as pepper balls and tear gas used indiscriminately against demonstrators legal observers and the media he explained late Friday in an email to The Associated Press Earlier in the day ICE Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin had reported in a declaration to the AP that three people were taken into custody The Broadview site is a two-story building that has been used to temporarily hold immigrants before they re detained or deported Its windows have been covered with wood boards for weeks Protesters have regularly gathered there including Catholic nuns who pray during vigils Friday s protest drew advocates residents and Democratic authorities or politicians several of whom were among the protest crowd affected by the officers response Kat Abughazaleh a congressional candidate who has joined protesters on several days stated the AP that she was thrown on the ground by federal agents and hit with tear gas Friday as she stood arm-in-arm with others in front of a driveway blocking a car Abughazaleh commented officers dragged one of her friends away before others picked her up and threw her on the pavement Abughazaleh stated agents then used tear gas and pepper balls causing her eyes to run and her throat to burn Protesters were totally peaceful she revealed We had no weapons just signs and songs We were afraid and angry ICE authorities meanwhile described the protesters as rioters and accused them of assaulting law enforcement slashing car tires and blocking the entrance of the facility Demonstrators gathered outside the building again on Friday evening Video posted online evidenced protesters falling back when white smoke filled the air and officers in gas masks exited a gate McLaughlin declared local police refused to answer multiple calls for assistance from federal law enforcement The Broadview Police Department did not forthwith respond to messages Friday Activists and local leaders lately have stepped up pushback to the surge of immigration agents in the Chicago area aiming to deter agents warn residents and keep attention on a man killed by an immigration officer last week Officers noted agents were pursuing a man with a history of reckless driving who had entered the country illegally They mentioned Silverio Villegas Gonzalez evaded arrest and dragged an officer with his truck The administration stated the officer fired because he feared for his life They want us to be afraid Illinois Lt Gov Juliana Stratton a Democrat noted in reference to the Trump administration They want us to just kind of go into our little corners and not do anything We re not going to let that happen Associated Press reporter Ed White in Detroit contributed to this story Source
