CHICAGO — Chicago police said they conducted a “mass arrest” early Monday on the North Side following the city’s Pride parade.
Authorities said more than 50 arrests were made in connection to post-parade activity, “including felony arrests for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery against a police officer, aggravated assault of a transit employee, and armed habitual criminal.”
All told, 53 people were arrested, including nine juveniles.
Added CPD: “Without the responsiveness and attention of the men and women of CPD, the residents, businesses and visitors to this area of the city would have likely faced increased criminal activity well into the early morning hours.”
A large police presence was reported in Lakeview in the early hours of Monday morning. Officers were seen dealing with a large crowd in the 3000 block of North Clark.
Alderman Bennett Lawson issued a statement to WGN News that said, “The Pride Parade yesterday was a safe and wonderful celebration of our diverse LGBTQ+ community, and it was such a joy to see so many people come out to show their support in the fight for equality. Following the Parade’s conclusion, I was extremely disappointed to see disruptive actions in our neighborhood into the early morning hours. I am grateful to the Chicago Police Department for their quick and decisive action to limit any damage and keep people safe, and to the Streets and Sanitation Department for their great work to clean our neighborhood. I look forward to meeting with City departments and stakeholders in the coming days to discuss how we can continue to improve the Parade for participants, attendees and neighbors, and prevent these disturbing actions from occurring in the future.”
Nearby, in the 1000 block of West School Street just after midnight, a 20-year-old woman was arrested after police say she pulled the hair of an officer and struck the officer multiple times.
Police said, the officer sustained a minor laceration and refused medical attention on scene.