3 Anti-Fascist Protesters Arrested At North Center Courthouse Rally

CHICAGO, IL — Anti-white supremacy protesters clashed with police during a demonstration Tuesday in front of a North Side courthouse, leading to the arrest of three people, according to reports. The rally of anti-fascist protesters was in response to a defendant with alleged ties to far-right hate groups who was at the Cook County criminal court building, a Cook County courthouse at 2452 W. Belmont Ave. for a hearing, a protest organizer told the Chicago Tribune. Charges against the three individuals arrested ranged from resisting arrest to battery of a police officer.

Tuesday's protest began at around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, as between two dozen to around 50 demonstrators with scarves or masks over their faces marched on the courthouse, chanting and carrying anti-fascist banners and signs, according to the Tribune and DNAinfo.com. After more than an hour, tensions flared between protesters and police when officers ordered marchers who briefly blocked the intersection of Western and Clybourn avenues back on the sidewalk, the Tribune reports.

Ezra Arreola, 28, of the 2000 block of South Morgan Street, was arrested after police claim he refused to get up on sidewalk and began scuffled with officers, DNAinfo reports. Arreola was charged with reckless conduct and resisting arrest. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for North Center and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Another protester tried to intervene during the fight between Arreola and police, and that person is accused of pushing officers and using his body to prevent Arreola's arrest, according to DNAinfo. Thomas Rainey, 50, of the 6400 block of North Newgard Avenue, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Finally, Ian Walsh, 25, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor aggravated assault of a peace officer. Police accuse him of attempting to hit an officer with some type of object, according to DNAinfo.

The next court date for Arreola and Rainey is scheduled for Wednesday. Walsh, who was released, is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 22.

A protest in support of Arreola and Rainey is being organized for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Cook County Jail, according to a Facebook post for the event. The online post also urges people to donate to the Chicago Community Bond Fund, which helps defendants pay their bail.

Although charges have been filed against three protesters, some demonstrators claim police were overly aggressive in their response to the rally and its participants, the Tribune reports. Once the confrontations had subsided, officers moved out the protesters and secured the Western Avenue entrance, the report added.

While organizers say the protest was in response to an alleged white supremacist who was at the courthouse for a hearing, the man's lawyer and authorities were unaware of any kind of white nationalism background, and police said the man had not been charged with a hate crime or any crime connected to racism, according to the Tribune.

More via the Chicago Tribune and DNAinfo.com

Photo via Shutterstock

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