CHICAGO (WLS) — Hundreds of anti-ICE protesters marched through city streets on Tuesday evening after holding a rally downtown.
Chopper 7 was over the demonstration, which caused major traffic disruptions for hours.
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Police took at least five people away in handcuffs throughout the afternoon and evening, and some officers in riot gear were deployed to the Loop.
Car speeds through crowd
ABC7 cameras were on the scene when a car sped through the crowd of demonstrators at Wabash and Monroe around 6:15 p.m.
An ABC7 crew saw Chicago police officers giving a thumbs-up signal, seemingly indicating that no one was hurt.
A woman appeared to be driving the vehicle, which is burgundy in color.
But the incident did not appear to deter any protesters. The growing group continued to move east, ending up in Grant Park by 6:30 p.m. before ending up on the drive.
Protesters block roads, disrupting traffic and CTA service
Hundreds of anti-ICE protesters are marching through city streets again on Tuesday evening after holding a rally downtown.
The crowd of 1,000 people or more started to block parts of DuSable Lake Shore Drive by 6:40 p.m. before turning northbound and eventually passing by ABC7’s State Street studio.
A large group of demonstrators against ICE raids temporarily blocked part of DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Grant Park on Tuesday evening.
Chicago police guided the protesters through downtown while moving traffic.
The CTA said bus service was temporarily suspended in the Loop, and other buses in the area may experience major delays.
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Officials placed plows on some downtown streets. Streets and Sanitation trucks moved onto Wacker Drive around 7:25 p.m.
The protesters were seen crossing over the Dearborn Street bridge into the River North neighborhood at 7:15 p.m.
The group walked a few blocks into River North before changing directions again, heading southbound on Clark Street.
Some demonstrators clash with police, Trump supporters
Shoving ensued between officers and demonstrators, and at least two people were taken away in handcuffs.
The group became much smaller as protesters gathered near Macy’s State Street in the Loop, where some clashed with CPD officers around 8 p.m.
Shoving ensued between officers and demonstrators, and at least two people were taken away in handcuffs.
Officers formed a line on State Street, trying to prevent protesters from continuing their march onto Washington Street.
CPD officers in riot gear were deployed to the area.
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A group of a few dozen demonstrators were eventually able to leave the intersection and walk southbound on Michigan Avenue, near Millennium Park, around 8:45 p.m.
A small group later made its way to Federal Plaza around 9 p.m. That’s where a planned rally happened hours earlier at 5:30 p.m.
Supporters of President Donald Trump briefly clashed with the anti-ICE protesters, but ultimately, that rally remained peaceful.
And some demonstrators also briefly clashed with officers earlier in the day, during their first march of the afternoon, which preceded the Federal Plaza rally.
Why they’re protesting
The protesters say they are speaking out against immigration enforcement seen in parts of the country, including the Chicago area.
Some of the demonstrators are children of immigrants, and some are undocumented people themselves.
They say immigrants across the country are living in fear under the Trump administration’s deportation orders.
READ MORE | Broadview protesters demand release of Chicago mother detained by ICE during routine check-in
Just last week, ICE agents arrested multiple people at an immigration facility in the South Loop. ABC7 blurred their faces, since we do not now if they face any charges.
Their families and lawyers say they were taken into custody during a regular check-in.
Organizers also said they are gathering to stand in solidarity with the unrest in Los Angeles where the National Guard was deployed, clashing with anti-ICE protesters there. Those protests have turned violent at times in downtown Los Angeles.
A UIC professor weighed in on the National Guard being deployed in LA.
Chicago-area organizers say they will continue to speak out against what they call unjust immigration enforcement.
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