The “No Kings” rally and march that took place in the Loop on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his policies attracted a large crowd without any major incidents reported. Despite fears of potential unrest, businesses that had boarded up their storefronts as a precautionary measure did not need to utilize these reinforcements.
One individual, a 21-year-old suburban man, was arrested during a protest on Thursday evening for allegedly possessing a firearm while posing as a police officer. As of midday Saturday, he had not been charged with any wrongdoing, according to a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department.
Further investigation into the 17 protesters who were arrested during a more tumultuous protest on Tuesday evening has revealed additional details. Arrest reports indicate that some of the most serious charges were related to physical altercations with police officers during the downtown event.
Asnat Berestizhevsky, 27, of the 1200 block of North Maplewood, is accused of throwing water bottles at police officers, one of which struck a CPD police sergeant. Following her arrest, officers discovered that she matched the description of an individual who had sprayed graffiti on a CPD squad car near the protest. A spray paint can was found in her backpack, leading to charges of felony criminal damage, misdemeanor battery, and resisting.
Natalie Copeland, 20, of the 400 block of East Oakwood, faces two felony counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer. Clad in all black attire and carrying a Mexican flag, Copeland allegedly threw an “unknown liquid” at two uniformed officers near State and Washington.
Yony Salgado, 33, of the 2700 block of South Homan, spat on an officer’s face after becoming agitated when yelling obscenities at law enforcement did not elicit a response. He fled the scene but was later apprehended by the same officer he had targeted.
Johnathan Ellison, 37, of the 1000 block of South Clark, is charged with felony aggravated battery of a peace officer for throwing a bottle containing an “unknown liquid” at an officer. Jordan Schnitz, 33, swung a protest poster at a CPD sergeant, resulting in misdemeanor charges of battery and resisting.
Joel Perez, 22, of Summit Argo, Illinois, engaged in reckless behavior by flailing his arms into the crowd and throwing punches at officers. Noor Soufan, 31, of the 100 block of East 14th Street, attempted to breach the police line, physically assaulting officers in the process.
Additional individuals arrested during the protest include Brenda Rosales, Oscar Garcia Jr., Ali Khaledodeh, Charles Brooks, Jacqueline Rincon, Jose Stewart, Anusha Singh, and Lucas Shutt, each facing various misdemeanor charges related to the demonstration.
In conclusion, while the “No Kings” rally and subsequent protests have drawn attention to important social and political issues, it is essential for all participants to adhere to peaceful and lawful means of expressing their grievances.
