At least 55 protesters arrested after violent clashes with police in Chicago on the second night of the National Congress of the Democratic Party - a situation that the police chief called a "danger to the city", reported AP, quoted by BTA.
Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling said today that those arrested outside the Israeli consulate, about 2 miles from the United Center, where the Democratic rally is being held, "appeared with the intent to commit acts of violence, vandalism".
"As a Chicago Police Department, we did everything we could to de-escalate the situation," Snelling said at a news conference.
Intense clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and police began minutes into the demonstration, after some of the demonstrators - many dressed in black, with their faces covered - charged at a line of police who had blocked their march. They eventually got past the police, but were surrounded several times during the night by police in riot gear, who prevented the protesters from dispersing.
Snelling said the protesters had come to "fight the police". "We did not initiate the violence, but we responded to it," Snelling said.
Snelling said between 55 and 60 people were arrested. Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, one with a sore knee and the other with a finger injury, Snelling said. Two policemen were injured, but they refused medical help.