Construction activists arrested at South Side site

Fourteen people were taken into custody Wednesday morning after police say they created a disturbance at a South Side housing construction site.

Sgt. Robert Cargie of the Chicago Police Department told the Chicago Defender that a number of protesters showed up at 4610 S. Drexel Ave., where a housing development is being built.

"They verbally harassed the workers, threatened them with bodily harm and tried to stop the work," he said.

They then allegedly took tools from workers and started smashing the dry walls and other structures being put up, said Cargie.

"A building supervisor asked them to leave," he said. "They didn't and police were called to the scene."

The Rev. Gregory Daniels, of United Voters for Truth and Change, told the Defender police mischaracterized circumstances.

"The 20 young men who showed up at the site were union carpenters and laborers who were trying to get jobs," he said. "Why should whites and Hispanics be doing work in Black neighborhoods?"

Daniels denied his people caused any problems.

"The police coerced the non-English speaking workers to accuse my young men, who were nothing but peaceful," he said.

Twelve people were arrested for criminal trespass and two for assault because of verbal threats.

They were taken to the 21st District station at 300 E. 29th St. where Daniels said he was told to "go back to Africa by some of the Polish workers from the construction site."

Daniels said in the 30 years UVTC has advocated for construction jobs for African Americans, no one had ever been arrested for visiting job sites.

"We will be back at that location tomorrow and I will file a class-action suit against the police for their actions," he said.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.