Just hours ago, a bunch of radical queers took to the streets in Boystown Chicago, singing chants and dancing to music being blasted through a boombox. Minutes after we started marching, cops showed up. We proceeded to march and wait for them to tell us to get out of the street. But they didn't. Instead they ran a police car into the back of the march, running over one person. Then they proceeded to run out of the cop cars with their weapons raised high and chase down whomever they could. Randomly picking some people out of the crowd, they beat them continuously, dragging them through the streets, pushing people down, etc, yelling faggots as they hit them.
As far as I could see 3 people were arrested, though it could have been four or five. The person who was run over by the police car was rushed to the hospital. Besides the fact that it is a clear case of police brutality, there are a few reasons why this was especially fucked up.
First of all. there were NO warnings at all. No sirens, no requests to get off the street. Just plain beatings and arrests.
Secondly, no one resisted, yet those targeted were being beaten and pushed around like they were.
Thirdly, this all took place in a completly public area at a very busy time of night. There were bystanders everywhere. Half the people that were chased down by the police were just neighborhood folk that were walking to or from downtown.
I don't know what to think or write about all this, but the Bash Back convergence starts back up tomorrow at 9am and I'm sure there will be plenty of good discussion.
Solidarity and good night.
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