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Reporting from the protest. |
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To reiterate, it was indeed a set up. The cops allowed us to take LSD and prepared to trap us when we tried to head towards Michigan. I too was among the first arrests during the fourth face-off with the "storm-troopers" on Michigan and Chicago. We were standing off with each-other just like the other face offs when the cops decided to charge trying to force us backward. There was no where to go, we sat down and engaged in a soft lock-down. Shortly after we were grabbed and arrested row by row. I was in the front and was dragged by an officer by my ankles across the cement. I was promptly arrested and handcuffed with those plastic tie up things. They were way too tight, and were cutting off my circulation. I shouted "Officer, my cuffs are too tight...It's cutting off my circulation." repeatedly but was ignored. In the paddy-wagon some women with a leather man were able to set me free. By then my hands were bluish-gray and were starting to swell. There were 28 of us in the paddy wagon, we managed to cut everyone free. Everyone broke out cel phones and called every contact they could. Someone took a list o f everyone's contact info, and called the National Lawyer's guild. The Associated Press called me and I told them our situation. I managed to get a hold of Dan from U. Chicago, my boy friend and I left a few messages with people whom most were also arrested. We were in the paddy wagon for about a hour and a half. When I got to the station we found out how disorganized and unprepared the cops were for us. They really didn't know what they were doing. At no time was I ever read my Miranda rights, or told what I was charged with. I was kept in a single cell with up to seven other women for well over 18 hours. I got in around 10:00 PM and was not released until 4:30 PM the next day. They didn't feed us for 15 hours, and the first ten were only given about 3 feet of toilet paper for 8 women. They constantly lied to us, pretended like they were coming to take us out and then they only read our numbers. They wouldn't let anyone see us. And many of us only got out because loved one posted bail. They mentioned things like suicide allot, cut all strings, took half our possessions. One cop would tell us one thing, and another would tell us something completely contrary to the first. We were treated like common criminals, and the cops intentionally mussed the system to keep us in longer. They wanted to keep us from going to the 8 am c.d. and the rally that evening. It was absolutely ridiculous what we went through. None of us committed arrestable offenses. It was a PEACEFUL PROTEST! I found out later from my boyfriend that they wouldn't let anyone in to see us, and the wouldn't tell them when we would be out. While I was in cell block 4-1 Peace I compiled a list of everything people witnessed before and during their arrest: -A mother who was arrested lost her child in the crowd ( a young girl) and although she made it very clear to the cops, they ignored her. Fortunately we were able to get a hold of someone from the paddywagon ( on cell phones) that found and kept her child for her. -A women on the stopped CTA bus on her way home from work, was arrested when she tried to leave the bus and head to the red line. - A pregnant walgreens shopper was picked up when she exited walgreens into the crowd. -All the badge numbers on the cops where taped over. -No one was ever told to disperse and allowed a safe route out. - A mentally disabled young man was picked up after he got upset when he saw his parents arrested. -One women who was driving with coworkers on LSD was redirected by cops right into the rally, she and her fiancÈ decided to join, and between the coworkers and them they convinced the police to let the coworkers to drive away, after which she and her fiancÈ were promptly arrested. -In the jail the cops divided a mother and daughter after specifically treating them like they could stay together. The daughter was only 17. -There have been claims that a certain cop flirted with captive women and tried to get them to sell Mary-Kay make-up for his wife -A woman fainted in the crowd and was ignored. -A woman was pushed off a bike when a cop pushed a man into the bike knocking them both down, and then arrested both of them. The cops did not allow the woman to lock up her bike. -A girl and her boyfriend ( tourists from Iowa) were visiting the cheese cake factory and taking in sites, they took a wrong turn and ended up at the rally. Both were arrested. -Members of the press where at first allowed to leave before the cops came down on the protesters, but a few were arrested. -There was a woman with a baby arrested, fortunately there was someone there to pass the baby off to. -During the later arrests, the group was cornered against the wall of the water tower, and even though they were begging just to go home. The chant at that point was "let us go home" -Twice in the jail we were displayed to a chief or head cop. There was a call to "get decent" then he promenaded down looked at us told us it was our fault the cops all had to work overtime, and then left. His badge number was also taped over. -There was a report that they tried to process people by the cop that arrested them, but nobody knew who did what, so some of the protesters were pared up with cops, had their pictures taken as if in some atemp to identify who was picked up by who. -A woman was not allowed to have her inhaler and was told to simply call the cops if she had a medical emergency and she would be taken to the hospital. and it wasn't like they came when we called...we were ignored for very long periods of time) -When people shouted "remember '68" the cops, agitated, charged at the protesters. -All our political things were confiscated permanently. No war pins, signs, etc. -Many people (including myself had hand cuffs so tight our circulation was cut off) -There was girls whose cuffs were so tight they gashed through her skin, she was taken to the hospital then back to the precinct. -One woman was violently hit between her legs during her third search at the police station. -It was cold and we asked for blankets and they said they would bring one, but never did. The same thing happened repeatedly when we asked for food, water, and more toilet paper. (None of which was provided until the 15th hour and then it was just food and toilet paper. Over all it was a horrible experience. But none of us can allow this unjust experience to dissuade us. We did nothing wrong. We have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Although they treated us like criminals, we were acting upon our consciences. We made and awesome statement, and hopefully our sacrifice will help open people eyes to how corrupt the system actually is. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST. This experience has only made us stronger and more determined. TO THE WOMEN IN CELL BLOCK 4-1 PEACE, WE SHALL OVER COME!!! Thanks for your solidarity! We really saw through the night together! TO THE AWSOME JAIL SUPPORT: Thankyou so much! It was the absolutly wonderful and reasuring to come out to hugs, food and people who cared...thanks for sticking out the cold and the rides home!!! And and a special thanks to my sweetie who bailed me out. TO THE CPD: Shame on you! You messed up big time, and I promise you the karma will hit you three-fold! Peace and Bright Blessings, April Columbia College Chicago On the Ground NION Youth and Student Network Students for Social Justice |
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