An 18-year-old protester was brutally beaten in the face by police, hitting his front teeth, in a protest in Chicago calling for the collapse of a statue of Christopher Columbus over the weekend.
On Friday, at least 1,000 people gathered around a statue in Grant Park, where hordes of policemen clashed with protesters who were spreading pepper spray and hitting people with wooden batons in what witnesses described as a “bloodier” protest. until now.
Activist Miracle Boyd, 18, had just finished addressing the crowd protesting the statue when she says she had an argument with an officer.
When she started recording her altercation, the police officer allegedly hit her left arm and hit her in the face.
‘My tooth was knocked out. I have lip abrasions in my mouth. My teeth hurt a lot, ” he told ABC7.
On Friday, Chicago police were videotaped hitting 18-year-old black activist Miracle Boyd in the face and having their front teeth pulled out in a protest calling for the collapse of a Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park.
A video appeared showing Boyd (blank) speaking to a police officer, who swung his arm toward his face when he attempted to film his altercation.
Boyd portrayed in black and white backgrounds walking away from the police after being hit
Boyd (right), a member of the youth group GoodKids MadCity, said officers took his phone. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help you cover the costs of your medical bill. She just graduated from high school last month and is heading to Depaul University in the fall.
He added that the officer hit his phone with his hand and was hit in the face.
Several videos of that altercation appeared on social media showing Boyd walking away from the officers before he appeared to be punched in the face and hurried to cover his bloody mouth.
Boyd, a member of the youth group GoodKids MadCity, said officers took his phone.
He had graduated from high school last month, was headed to Depaul University in the fall according to a June message from the Chicago Public Schools, and last week he was offered an internship at the office of State Senator Robert Peters.
A GoFundMe has been started to raise money for your medical bills.
State Senator Peters criticized the police assault on her tweet: “I am sad, angry and upset.”
‘She is someone who fights every day for the prevention of armed violence, who fights for a safe community. And what did you face? Abuse, ” he said.
Hordes of policemen attacked protesters with pepper spray and wooden batons in Friday’s protest. A view of the police descending on the monument and pushing protesters above
Chicago police said they are investigating the Boyd-related incident, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot condemned reports of excessive police force as “unacceptable.”
The protest attempted to knock down a statue of Christopher Columbus with ropes.
A protester at the Friday rally scaled the statue and threw a rope over it in an attempt to knock it down.
Chicago police say they are opening an investigation into the incident with Boyd.
‘The Chicago Police Department (CPD) strives to treat all people our officers meet with respect. We do not tolerate misconduct of any kind and, if a crime is discovered, officers will be held accountable, ” the department said in a statement to Buzzfeed News.
After the police violence with the protesters, Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted: “I have spoken with the director of the Civil Office of Police Responsibility, and she has assured me that @ChicagoCOPA is ready to address these complaints.”
‘There have also been several reports of excessive force by the police. These are also unacceptable, “he added.
The officer who hit Boyd has not been named.
A view of police officers dodging debris and fireworks launched by protesters the previous Friday
Two officers watch as protesters try to tear down the heavy Columbus monument
Around 1,000 people surrounded the covered statue of Christopher Columbus in the city center, demanding that the symbol of colonialism be demolished.
Police officers forcibly portrayed protesters and members of the park’s media on Friday.
Overall, at least 12 people were arrested and 18 officers were injured in the protest.
A video of the chaotic clashes shows protesters throwing bottles and fireworks at officers who were standing at the statue.
One person scaled the statue and caught a rope that was thrown by the crowd and started a failed attempt to pull the statue down.
Other videos and photos show masses of officers running towards the protesters and pushing them to the ground to clean up the plaza.
‘This was the bloodiest protest I have ever been on. People had head injuries and the police kept carrying and spraying everyone. To protect a statue from a murderer. The connected brutality and logic of Colonialism and modern police were on full display, ” a protester tweeted at the Friday rally.
Lightfoot said last month that it opposed the removal of the Columbus statues in the city and on Saturday said its team was planning a ‘comprehensive review of our public icons’.
Lightfoot tweeted Saturday that it would ensure that allegations of police assault against protesters are investigated.
Columbus statues have been a point of discussion across the country in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Lightfoot said last month that it opposed the removal of the Columbus statues in the city, and on Saturday said its team was planning a “thorough review of our public icons.”
Protesters gathered outside the mayor’s house on Saturday to protest their support for the statue and the police violence that unfolded on Friday.
‘That statue has to be knocked down. When you have a statue in a public square, you are saying that it is someone who should be celebrated, ‘Ald. Carlos Ramírez-Rosa, from District 35 said.
On Friday night, a group of city and state officials released a statement condemning reports that police use pepper spray and other aggressive actions against protesters and journalists.
The document, signed by Ald. Ramírez-Rosa, Representative Delia Ramírez, State Senator Robert Peters and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson added that they are ready to “work to disburse the Chicago Police Department immediately.”
.
