Chicago police have responded to protest activities developing at The International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP) conference at McCormick Place. Protesters are calling it a Shadow Conference” and used tactics such as “sleeping dragons” and other blocking techniques to block sidewalks, roadways and intersections by 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The Shadow Conference march and rally began at Chicago Police headquarters at 35th Street and Michigan Avenue at 1 p.m. Protesters then extended actions to McCormick Place and the intersection of Indiana and Cermak, and to Michigan Avenue and Cermak.
Some protesters have attached themselves to structures and climbed flagpoles and removed at least one U.S. flag flying at McCormick Place. Protesters have also attached themselves to each other with large diameter PVC piping and duct tape to enhance their blocking effect, which is known as a “Sleeping Dragon” maneuver.
California and Division is also reported to be blocked. Protesters have also formed at 26th Street and Martin Luther King Drive.
Protesters blocking road in front of Police chief's conference in Chicago. #StopTheCops pic.twitter.com/SbRlZlec5C
— Paul Gottinger (@PaulGottinger) October 24, 2015
A support person buttons up the shirt of someone standing up for justice. #StopTheCops pic.twitter.com/mcL6UZ4OJf
— Chicago Rising (@ChicagoRising) October 24, 2015
It's very windy today. The flag says "Unapologetically Black @BYP_100" #StopTheCops pic.twitter.com/Q89C5U9j52
— Chicago Rising (@ChicagoRising) October 24, 2015
MLK/26th St #IACP action primarily led by Black/Queer/Trans women of color. #FundBlackFutures #StopTheCops @BYP_100 pic.twitter.com/N5IXhMvVBv
— Deivid Rojas (@DeividSRojas) October 24, 2015
Organizers of the shadow conference and protest, named “I shocked the sheriff,” are demanding IACP support the decriminalization of drug possession, community-controlled oversight committees representative of the racial, gender and ethnic makeup of those communities which have the authority to “investigate, subpoena, and file charges against police officers for misconduct,” an end to the collection of military grade weapons through the Department of Defense Excess Property Program 1033, and a reallocation of funds that invest in communities.
The IACP Conference runs from October 24-27, 2015 at McCormick Place West.
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