Protesters Shut Down Major Chicago Highway; Mayor Emanuel Says Go For It, Comrades

Today, a massive movement of “anti-violence” protesters blocked traffic across a major Chicago highway in an effort to shutdown the road and call for "commonsense" gun laws. Mayor Rahm Emanuel had initially disapproved, then approved of the group’s plan to march on the Dan Ryan Highway, but Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner claims today that the group moved beyond what it was permitted to do.

The march is led by Rev. Michael Pfleger, an Illinois Roman Catholic priest who advocates liberation theology, and the left-wing Rev. Jesse Jackson. Protesters shouted “Shut it down!” as they ventured onto the roadway earlier this morning. Just yesterday, Mayor Emmanuel said the protesters “should be allowed (on the Dan Ryan), yes, because they’re going to be talking about anti-violence. And I think there’s a proper way to raise that awareness. I don’t think there should ever have been a doubt about that effort.”

But, today, Gov. Rauner says that the situation escalated from the original agreement and the protesters “chose instead to cause chaos.” He also tweeted he disappointed in the Mayor and called upon him “take swift and decisive action to put an end to” the protest.

More