Police Surveillance Video Shows New Angle To Grant Park Protest

CHICAGO-Chicago Police have released video from Friday night's protest at Grant Park in an attempt at bringing additional context to reports of police misconduct at the event. Surveillance footage from the area showed officers being hit with umbrellas, frozen bottles and even explosive fireworks by protesters attempting to bring down the statue depicting Christopher Columbus which still stands in the park.

Police Superintendent David Brown said during a news conference that officers faced organized mob action “designed to provoke violent responses."

"We cannot assume that protests are going to be peaceful, based on these actions and others," he said during the press conference.

A six-minute compilation of surveillance footage posted Monday morning by CPD showed some members in the protest using umbrellas to shield others as they changed into black clothing and masks before pelting officers at the statue with projectiles.

As a result of the confrontation, officers will now be ordered to wear "any and all protective gear." According to numbers released by the Chicago Police Department, 49 officers were injured with 18 requiring hospitalization.

The confrontation between protesters and police made headlines when images of 18-year-old GoodKidMadCity organizer Miracle Boyd was allegedly struck by a police officer for recording an arrest. Boyd joined organizers at a rally in Washington Park giving her first public comments since the incident took place.

“There is no way I should have left a protest bruised and battered for exercising my freedom of speech and freedom to assemble,” Boyd said during a press conference Monday morning. “I am disgusted and never would have ever thought I would become a victim to the biggest gang in America.”

More than 20 people who have brought forward allegations to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Brown still holds that the vast majority of his officers acted professionally.

“I want to be clear, the Chicago Police Department does not want to engage in violent interactions with peaceful protesters,” he said. “But when the law is being broken, or has been broken, our oath demands that we act. This is not a choice for our officers, this is a requirement of our oath. Even if that means protecting a statue.”

Mayor Lightfoot also condemned acts of violence by protesters Friday evening, calling the actions 'Anarchy.'

"We are going to put that down," she said. "We can’t have a circumstance where a small subset of that try to take over and hijack the peaceful protest and then turn it into a fight with the police.”

A new action has been planned by protesters Monday night where they have again indicated they will attempt to bring the statue down.