175 Chicago protesters arrested after being told to leave Grant Park

Via Global Guerrillas

Chicago police arrested about 175 Occupy Chicago protestors in Congress Plaza just after 1 a.m. Sunday, about 90 minutes after police issued their first warning that the group was violating municipal code.

Police completed the last arrests and cleared the plaza of protesters at 3:30 am, more than two hours after arrests began.

The protesters will likely be cited with municipal violations and face fines, police said.

Occupy Chicago volunteers said they were taking bags and other belongings from people who were arrested to Grace Episcopal Church for people to pick up once they were released from jail.

With the din from supporters from across the street long since faded away, the participants were taken away in police trucks and CTA buses, often cheering.

"I did it!" one woman said, beaming. "Did you see what I did?"

Officers individually approached protesters, who had formed a human chain and sat on the ground, to give them the option to leave the park voluntarily or be arrested.

As of 1:30 a.m., at least 50 protesters had been hauled away, while about 150 others stood and continued their demonstrations from across the street on Michigan Avenue.

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