Anti-violence protesters shut down part of Chicago freeway

Thousands of anti-violence protesters marched along a Chicago interstate on Saturday, shutting down traffic to draw attention to the gun violence that's claimed hundreds of lives in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods and pressure public officials to do more to stop it.

Marchers chanted, "Stop the killing," and carried signs reading, "We need jobs," and other messages. Some stopped to scrawl on the road with chalk: "Enough is enough" and "Peace." Toward the front of the march the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Roman Catholic priest on the city's South Side who organized the protest; Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson; and the Rev. Jesse Jackson linked arms.

Protesters march on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Saturday, July 7, 2018, in Chicago. The protesters shut down the expressway to draw attention to the city's gun violence and pressure public officials to do more to help neighborhoods hardest hit by it.(AP Photo/Annie Rice)

"The people won today because the people showed up. They saw this many people out here, black and white and brown and young and old, and saying, 'We're tired of the damn violence in Chicago,'" Pfleger said after completing the roughly 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometer) route.

"We want the governor, the mayor, the elected officials and the community all to come together and say, 'We want peace now.'"

The Rev. Michael Pfleger speaks to protesters before marching on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Saturday, July 7, 2018, in Chicago. The protesters shut down the expressway to draw attention to the city's gun violence and pressure public officials to do more to help neighborhoods hardest hit by it.(AP Photo/Annie Rice)

The march took place along the northbound lanes of Interstate 94, known as the Dan Ryan Expressway, after a roughly hourlong standoff between police and the protesters. The expressway was fully reopened less than 90 minutes later, after the protest ended.

Illinois State Police, which had warned earlier in the week that any pedestrian entering the expressway would face arrest, said early Saturday that an agreement had been reached for protesters to march on a portion of the roadway. Officers and vehicles lined up, forming a barrier to keep protesters in two northbound lanes, allowing some traffic to pass in other northbound lanes.

But Pfleger and protesters insisted there was no agreement and that they would shut down the entire northbound roadway, with Pfleger noting the city closes major roads for parades and other occasions. The crowd began creeping into other lanes — a situation Pfleger said had the potential to become dangerous.

Rev. Michael Pfleger and Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson march arm-in-arm alongside protesters who poured into the inbound lanes of Interstate 94 known as the Dan Ryan Expressway Saturday, July 7, 2018 in Chicago. The protesters shut down the interstate to draw attention to the city's gun violence and pressure public officials to do more to help neighborhoods hardest hit by it. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP) /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Illinois State Police, which has jurisdiction over expressways, announced around 11:30 a.m. that they were shutting down all northbound lanes of the expressway. Protesters then began walking northbound along the route.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner took to Twitter to call the shutdown "unacceptable," saying there had been parameters set to allow protesters to march while "respecting law and order" but that protesters instead chose "chaos." The Republican also said he was "disappointed" in Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Thousands of anti-violence protesters pour into the inbound lanes of Interstate 94 known as the Dan Ryan Expressway Saturday, July 7, 2018 in Chicago. The protesters shut down the interstate to draw attention to the city's gun violence and pressure public officials to do more to help neighborhoods hardest hit by it. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP) /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

"I am calling on the Mayor to take swift and decisive action to put an end to this kind of chaos," Rauner wrote.

Emanuel, a Democrat, responded in a tweet : "It was a peaceful protest. Delete your account."

Pfleger said the next step is accomplishing the actual goal — an "aggressive plan" to address the violence . Among the demands the protesters listed were more resources, jobs and better schools for their communities as well as stronger gun laws.

There's a historical significance to marching along the Dan Ryan Expressway — a roadway some believe was built in the early 1960s to separate white communities and poor, black ones. To the west of the new interstate were Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox, and neighborhoods such as Bridgeport, home to then-Mayor Richard J. Daley and his clan. To the east rose the Robert Taylor Homes, a high-rise public housing complex that became notorious for its violence.

Chicago police officers stand before a protest on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Saturday, July 7, 2018, in Chicago. Thousands of protesters have shut down the interstate to draw attention to the city's gun violence and pressure public officials to do more to help neighborhoods hardest hit by it. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

It was the kind of racial and economic segregation that still exists in Chicago today.

Chicago police said the city had 252 homicides and 1,100 shootings in the first six months of this year, a decrease from the same period last year. But those crimes have been heavily concentrated in predominantly black, low-income neighborhoods.

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger has two fractured ribs on his right side, sidelining another key player for the Chicago Cubs.

Bellinger got hurt when he hit the wall in center while trying to make a play on Yainer Diaz's RBI double in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's 7-2 victory over Houston. He was replaced in the field before the Astros batted in the seventh.

X-rays were negative, and Bellinger downplayed the injury after the win. But he had a CT scan on Wednesday morning that showed the fractures.

“He woke up feeling good,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “He was encouraged how he woke up feeling and he was like, ‘I think I kind of dodged something,’ was his words, actually. And unfortunately it just revealed what’s there.”

Counsell didn't have a timetable for Bellinger's return.

“The doctors will come up with a plan,” Counsell said before Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Astros, “and, like everything, he's got to get symptom-free first and we'll go from there.”

The Cubs put Bellinger on the 10-day injured list and recalled Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa. The 22-year-old outfielder is considered one of the team's top prospects, but he hit just .203 (16 for 79) with 24 strikeouts in his first 19 games of the season in the minors.

Bellinger joined fellow outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the IL, along with left-handers Justin Steele (left hamstring) and Drew Smyly (right hip), and right-handers Kyle Hendricks (low back strain) and Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture).

Even with the injuries, Chicago is off to a 15-9 start. It will try to sweep its three-game set against Houston on Thursday afternoon.

“We have good players here, not only that started the year here, but that’s in our system and a part of this organization,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “We knew coming in that obviously it was going to take more than just the 26 that broke camp, and it’s already being put on full display.”

Suzuki has been out since April 14 because of a right oblique strain. Counsell said he has resumed baseball activities and could be ready to go on a rehab assignment shortly after the team returns from its upcoming seven-game road trip.

The 28-year-old Bellinger hit .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023 in his first season with the Cubs, regaining his form after a couple of down years. He re-signed with Chicago in February for an $80 million, three-year contract.

Bellinger had just started to heat up before the injury. The 2019 NL MVP is batting .333 (10 for 30) with three homers and seven RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

“When you lose, I think, Seiya, when you lose Cody, players like that, your offense doesn’t improve. You know, it can’t, right?” Counsell said.

“Frankly what your goal is in those situations is to, there's going to be a little bit of a drop-off, but you hope to minimize it as much as you can. And I do think we're in that position, to just minimize maybe their absences a little bit.”

It remains to be seen how often Crow-Armstrong plays while Bellinger is out. He entered Wednesday night's game as a defensive replacement before the start of the eighth inning.

While Crow-Armstrong has struggled at the plate, he could help the Cubs with his defense and baserunning. He made his big league debut last year and went 0 for 14 while appearing in 13 games.

“I know how to play my role a little bit better now,” he said. “I think I have a better understanding of how to be myself as well. So yeah, I'm just coming in again with the same goal in mind and trying to win ballgames.”

The 34-year-old Hendricks was placed on the IL on Tuesday. The right-hander said his back issue popped up during a bullpen session last week and continued through his start on Sunday.

He is 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA through five starts, but he didn't feel as though the injury was a major factor in his tough opening to the season.

“I got to keep my mindset on the execution and the pitches I'm making there. Can't use excuses (like) that,” Hendricks said. “But, on the other hand, we just want to give myself a chance to get to 100 percent so I know there aren't any issues. I'm strictly focused on the pitching.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger struggles to catch a fly ball from Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz as it bounces off the ivy during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger struggles to catch a fly ball from Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz as it bounces off the ivy during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)