by Emily Zanotti, Daily Wire:

Chicago police were ready for a massive protest in the city’s downtown that quickly went out of control Saturday night, arresting at least two dozen demonstrators who, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot said, came prepared for a fight.

Chicago police officers were following a large protest, hosted by several “anti-racism” and “anti-police brutality groups” — though not Chicago’s chapter of Black Lives Matter — that began on the city’s lakefront and then threatened to move north toward the city’s “Magnificent Mile” shopping district, which is still reeling from looting and rioting early last week.

After one officer was hit with a skateboard and another punched, the demonstration erupted into a clash between Chicago police and protesters which ended with protesters being “kettled” and allowed out of the city’s downtown “Loop” business district only one at a time.

Sunday morning, CPD released footage of the altercation that set off the clash.

The following video footage shows the initial incident that sparked yesterday's violence and arrests, as well as the aggravated battery against a CPD officer with a skateboard. More video will be released throughout the day as it is received. pic.twitter.com/oW7Z3oGKSZ

— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 16, 2020

The video shows protesters advancing towards police on Michigan Avenue.

“Tensions flared near Randolph and Dearborn, where officers in riot gear were seen shoving protesters back with their shields, some of them hitting demonstrators with batons. Other video showed protesters hitting police officers with a skateboard and other objects,” WGN News reported. “It was just one of several heated moments Saturday night as CPD bicycle officers formed perimeters near Lake and Michigan. The bridges were raised over the Chicago River to try to keep the protesters from advancing through the Loop.”

Other social media videos show the police response. United in a single line with Police Superintendent David Brown at the lead, officers advanced on the protesters, pressing them first to the south and then to the west, until the demonstration was surrounded. Protesters were then released from the “kettle” one by one after being searched for weapons.

Wacker/Michigan right now #ChicagoScanner #ChicagoProtests pic.twitter.com/Rw1DdZo2Mc

— Paige Fry (@paigexfry) August 15, 2020

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