Graffiti spree reported
near Occupy Boston site. B6.
In Philadelphia, yesterday, police arrested more than a dozen protesters who camped out in the middle of the street across from police headquarters. They had marched from the Occupy Philadelphia encampment outside City Hall to police headquarters Saturday to protest alleged police brutality at demonstrations across the nation.
Chicago police began taking people into custody just before 1 a.m. yesterday. Those arrested were led in groups to vans and two large white buses as others clamored to be arrested.
“Take me next! Take me next!’’ some shouted as police began the arrests. Others chanted as they were led away: “We’ll be back!’’
Officers had begun placing barricades around the area of Chicago’s Grant Park known as Congress Plaza about 11:10 p.m. Saturday, minutes after the park had closed. Police then went through the crowd and warned people to leave or risk arrest for remaining in the closed park in violation of a city ordinance.
Several of the protesters who stayed inside the barricades in the park sat on the ground. Others locked arms as police circled and began arresting people.
“One: We are the people! Two: We are united! Three: The occupation is not leaving!’’ demonstrators shouted. Others joined in from just outside the park.
Chicago police said yesterday morning that 130 arrests had been made.
Kaunert said none of those arrested had resisted.
“Everybody was very peaceful and smiling, and there was no violence, though a lot of chanting,’’ he said.
He urged authorities to let the people resume protesting peacefully against the perceived greed and other ills they see on Wall Street and elsewhere in corporate America. He noted it was the second straight weekend that arrests had been made in the park after 175 arrests the previous Sunday, when protesters set up tents past public hours.
“The police came in and again took away our right to free speech and assembly,’’ Kaunert said.
