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Police Intimidate Federal Building Protest
Police Intimidate Federal Building Protest - A report covering the early part of the protest (3:45 to 5:25pm Friday)
It's three am Saturday morning. I have been away from all media since 6:45pm Friday. I had hoped to get an update on the Federal Building demonstration. None here, so I give you my meager report.
I arrived at the Federal Building around 3:40 pm. First I scouted all the streets around for about 2 blocks in every direction. Many, Many police on every corner. Nine Sheriff's Police prisoner buses parked on the 320 block of South Dearborn.
From 3:45 till 5:25pm I stood at the NW corner of Adams and Dearborn watching. As I watched, single, then double then triple rows of police surround the plaza. The only entrance into the plaza is a 5 foot opening between the rows of police at the SW corner of Adams and Dearborn.
Around 4:15pm two TV trucks that had parked adjacent to the plaza on the south side of Adams were ordered away by the police. At 5:15pm a column of 10 to 20 mounted police form a line along that same stretch of Adams. At 5:22 the police block off traffic on Adams and Dearborn. Every police officer I see has a ring of 10 plastic hand-cuffs.
At about 5:25 the protesters have finally for sure surpassed the police in numbers. I had to leave at 5:25. On the way out I see a cordon of police at State and Adams. From Grant Park I can see 5 helicopters spaced about a mile apart hovering in stationary formation from the south loop to the north loop.
My fear was that they were planning on massive arrests. I assumed that they planned on not allowing the protest to move away from the area. They clearly were intent on scaring (terrorizing) the protesters.