Anti-Violence Protest Closes Lake Shore Drive, Ends At Wrigley

CHICAGO, IL — Protesters closed down a stretch of Lake Shore Drive and other roadways as they marched to Wrigley Field on Thursday as part of an anti-violence demonstration. Chicago police reopened Lake Shore in both directions just after 5 p.m., and the group reached the ballpark at around 5:30 p.m.

The demonstration — organized by the Coalition for a New Chicago and Violence Interrupters — started at around 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. Protesters were traveling a nearly 2-mile route along Lake Shore between Diversey Parkway and Belmont Avenue.

At Belmont, the group moved west to Clark Street, then northwest to Wrigley. Drivers were advised to take Western, Ashland, Damen or Lincoln Avenues to get around street closures west of Wrigley Field.

WATCH: Protesters march during an anti-violence demonstration Thursday in Chicago that started along Lake Shore Drive and ended at Wrigley Field.

March organizer Joseph Eccleston said the protest was about holding police accountable and combating corruption in the police force.

“We want civilian police accountability. … We want the community to take control of the police,” he said.

Protesters also were asking for the resignations of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson. They also wanted the city to invest more in the South and West sides and reopen 50 schools closed under Emanuel's administration.

“We are really passionate about bringing awareness to the disparity between the South and West sides and the North Side,” said protester Dannis Matteson. “We just want more people on the North Side to care about the economic injustice and the racial injustice that exists in our city.”

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Drawing attention to the economic and social divides between the different parts of the city was behind the reason event organizers chose Wrigley Field and the surrounding Lake View neighborhood to stage the demonstration.

“A lot of North Siders are not aware of what’s going on on the South Side, or maybe they are, but they don’t know what to do about it,” said protester Thomas Cook. “This is a chance to get the ball rolling and try to do something to make the South Side and our side more equal in terms of resources, schools and jobs.”

During pres conference Monday, the Rev. Gregory Livingston, one of the event's organizers, characterized the protest as "a disruptive force," and he said he expected some demonstrators to be arrested, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"We do have people who are committed who are ready to get arrested," the Rev. Ira Acree, another organizer, said at Monday's press conference. "And those who don’t, we’ll tell them to stay back. But certainly, there are people who are gonna get arrested. And we have attorneys and people who will provide resources to bail them out."

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But as of 7 p.m., no arrests had been made during the protest, police said. The demonstration shut down Lake Shore Drive for about 35 minutes, according to authorities, who estimated that the event drew about 150 people. Organizers, however, said around 500 people participated, with some individuals joining as the group marched to the ballpark.

"Event ended without any arrests or issues," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote on Twitter. "150 demonstrators participated and we thank residents and motorists for their patience during today's events."

Earlier this week, officials for the Chicago Cubs told fans that getting in and out of Wrigley Field on Thursday wouldn't be a problem. People attending the game against the San Diego Padres were told to avoid the affected roadway.

"We are advising our guests to avoid Lake Shore Drive," Cubs spokesman Julian Green told the Chicago Tribune before the protest.

To complicate traffic matters, the first day of Lollapalooza also was Thursday, with the first musical acts performing on multiple stages around Grant Park beginning at noon.

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An anti-violence protest similar to Thursday's planned event was held July 7, and it shut down the north lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway on the South Side. But organizers of this week's demonstration are distancing themselves from the Rev. Michael Pfleger-led protest, which had the support of Emanuel and Johnson.

"We’re not looking for any kind of help from Mayor Emanuel because, Jesus said, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’ He’s then divided against himself," Livingston said at the press conference.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune

Patch editor Amber Fisher contributed to this report.

Protesters marched along Lake Shore Drive on Thursday, Aug. 2, eventually gathering in front of Wrigley Field as part of an anti-violence demonstration. (Photos via Amber Fisher | Patch)