Riot breaks out at Chicago ICE facility as protesters clash with police.
A peaceful protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview turned violent on Friday morning when scuffles erupted between protesters and police officers, resulting in four injuries and 21 arrests. The clash occurred about an hour after the protest began with over 100 demonstrators gathered outside the facility.
According to reports from law enforcement officials, some protesters refused to disperse after being told by officers to leave the designated protest area. The situation escalated when around 50 protesters entered a restricted roadway, prompting four police officers to be injured in the process of trying to redirect them back behind the jersey barriers.
Eyewitnesses reported that some protesters were forced to the ground during the confrontation and were even subjected to physical force by law enforcement officials. Witnesses also stated that several people were yelling and chanting slogans as the incident unfolded.
One protester who wished to remain anonymous claimed they suffered injuries, including bruises from being struck multiple times and a possible broken hand. Another protester, Jillian Westerfield, an associate minister at Lake Street Church in Evanston, said she was pushing for spiritual care delivery despite being denied access by officials at the facility.
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson condemned the violence but also expressed her support for those exercising their right to free speech and assembly. "I have repeatedly pleaded to protesters to raise their voices, not their fists," she stated in a statement. "These out-of-towners have chosen to brutalize police officers who have been protecting their free speech and protecting them against assaults by ICE agents."
However, Westerfield disagreed with Thompson's views, stating that even though many of the protesters did not live within Broadview, they still considered themselves neighbors. She added that she didn't notice any raised fists or individuals wielding weapons during the demonstration.
In total, 21 people were detained after a skirmish occurred between protesters and law enforcement officers in the roadway on Beach Street near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. Illinois State Police confirmed one of their officers sustained minor injuries during the incident.
A peaceful protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Broadview turned violent on Friday morning when scuffles erupted between protesters and police officers, resulting in four injuries and 21 arrests. The clash occurred about an hour after the protest began with over 100 demonstrators gathered outside the facility.
According to reports from law enforcement officials, some protesters refused to disperse after being told by officers to leave the designated protest area. The situation escalated when around 50 protesters entered a restricted roadway, prompting four police officers to be injured in the process of trying to redirect them back behind the jersey barriers.
Eyewitnesses reported that some protesters were forced to the ground during the confrontation and were even subjected to physical force by law enforcement officials. Witnesses also stated that several people were yelling and chanting slogans as the incident unfolded.
One protester who wished to remain anonymous claimed they suffered injuries, including bruises from being struck multiple times and a possible broken hand. Another protester, Jillian Westerfield, an associate minister at Lake Street Church in Evanston, said she was pushing for spiritual care delivery despite being denied access by officials at the facility.
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson condemned the violence but also expressed her support for those exercising their right to free speech and assembly. "I have repeatedly pleaded to protesters to raise their voices, not their fists," she stated in a statement. "These out-of-towners have chosen to brutalize police officers who have been protecting their free speech and protecting them against assaults by ICE agents."
However, Westerfield disagreed with Thompson's views, stating that even though many of the protesters did not live within Broadview, they still considered themselves neighbors. She added that she didn't notice any raised fists or individuals wielding weapons during the demonstration.
In total, 21 people were detained after a skirmish occurred between protesters and law enforcement officers in the roadway on Beach Street near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview. Illinois State Police confirmed one of their officers sustained minor injuries during the incident.
, like literally can't get enough of it. so i'm at this new pizzeria downtown and they have this insane pepperoni pie that's just... wow. anyway, back to chicago - yeah those protests are crazy. i feel for the protesters though, they're trying to make a point about immigration rights and it's super important. but at the same time, i don't blame the cops for keeping everyone in line. i mean, can you imagine if we all started throwing fists everywhere when we didn't agree with someone? chaos would ensue lol. oh wait, i just remembered - have you tried that new pizza place on lake shore drive? gotta try it!
I mean, you got people out here exercising their 1st Amendment rights, just chillin' outside an ICE facility, and then suddenly it's like a full-on brawl with cops. It raises so many questions - what's the role of law enforcement in these types of situations? Are they more of a deterrent or are they actively contributing to the violence? 
. It's totally understandable to want to raise awareness about ICE policies, but violence never solves anything 
. We need to find a way to peacefully express our opinions and demand change without resorting to physical confrontations or getting arrested 
. The mayor might be right that some protesters were being too aggressive, but it's not fair to blame all of us for the actions of a few. Can't we just talk things out and work together to create positive change? 
Chicago is like, totally not surprised when this happens right? These protests have been going on for ages now, and every time it seems like they're gonna get outta hand. I mean, I get where they're coming from - it's frustrating to see people being detained and processed without any real human connection or support. But at the same time, law enforcement is just doing their job, ya know? It's like, you can't have your cake and eat it too, right?
i mean, i know some people might say the cops were justified in using force, but come on, can't they just try to de-escalate the situation first? 
I'm seeing some intense emotions here... I mean, I get it, the immigration system can be super frustrating for many people, but violence ain't gonna solve anything 
. I hope everyone involved is okay, especially those who got hurt 
.
️ and it was so mind-blowing I mean, have you ever been to that place in Thailand where they have those crazy street food stalls? I'm thinking of trying to visit them all someday maybe next year 
i'm all for free speech, but not when it involves violent clashes with law enforcement 
what's the point of having a peaceful protest if you're just gonna get arrested or worse?! 
. I'm all for free speech and assembly, but you can't do that while throwing punches and kicking cops 
. Maybe instead of physical confrontation, ppl could've just kept shouting their slogans and marched around the block 
.
I'm really worried about what's going on at this ICE facility 
. I mean, protests are a fundamental right and all that, but some people need to learn how to do them without getting violent 
. I've seen videos of these protests online and it looks like some protesters were totally out of control 
. The police did their job, but at what cost? 
.
. I wish people could learn to listen to each other's perspectives instead of just shouting at each other 
. It's really frustrating when it feels like everyone is just so entrenched in their views 
.
. Let's try to do better, okay? 
