Members of Black Lives Matter in Chicago held a rally on Monday to support the more than 100 arrested yesterday after widespread looting and rioting that caused at least $ 60 million in property damage and saw 13 police officers injured, according to a report.
The rally was organized by Black Lives Matter Chicago and was held at a police station in the South Loop, where organizers say individuals are currently being held in custody. At least one organizer called the looting tantamount for “repairs.”
“I do not care if someone decides to plunder a Gucci or a Macy’s or a Nike store, because that would cause that person to eat,” said Ariel Atkins, a BLM organizer, according to NBC Chicago. “That makes sure you have clothes.”
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Protesters hold a banner as Ariel Atkins (not seen), a lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Chicago, speaks to reporters on Monday, August 10, 2020, outside Station 1 of the Chicago Police Department in Chicago. (AP Photo / Charles Rex Arbogast)
“That’s repairs,” Atkins continued. “Anything they want to take, they can take it, because these companies have insurance.”
The unrest was prompted by a social media post urging people to convert in the Chicago business district after police shot a man on the South Side around 2.30pm Sunday.
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Officials had responded to a call about a man with a gun near Englewood. While being chased by police, the man, who was on foot, “shot and shot” at officers before hitting himself and being taken to a local hospital, Deputy Chief Delonda Tally told Fox 32 Chicago.
Latrell Allen, 20, was charged with attempted murder Monday after firing on officers, according to Chicago police. A video posted on Facebook at about 6.30pm falsely stated that officials had shot and killed a 15-year-old boy.
The shooting prompted hundreds of people to descend on downtown Chicago early Monday with vandals smashing the windows of dozens of businesses and smashing merchandise, ATMs and anything they could carry, police said.
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Yogi Dalal hugs his daughter Jigisha as his other daughter Kajal, left, bows her head at the family food and beverage store on Monday, August 10, 2020, after the family business was vandalized in Chicago. (AP Photo / Charles Rex Arbogast)
‘This was not an organized protest. After all, this was an incident of pure crime, “police superintendent David Brown told reporters.” This was an act of violence against our policemen and against our city. ”
BLM organizers criticized police reports surrounding the shooting, noting that none of the officers involved had body cameras, which investigators confirmed, according to NBC Chicago.
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Black Lives Matter Chicago published a statement received by the Chicago Sun-Times which read: ‘The mayor has clearly learned nothing since May, and she would be wise to understand that the people will rise up to the [Chicago Police Department] has been abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in, ”the group said in a statement.
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“Police say a lot of things,” Atkins added. “Even though the Department of Justice said with the permission decision that they were no longer allowed to hunt people, they decided they would hunt, and they shot this young man multiple times.”
Bradford Betz of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report
