Chicago Police superintendent describes “vicious” behavior of protesters

(The Center Square) – Police officials made mass arrests Tuesday night after pro-Palestinian protestors confronted and attacked police officers near the Israeli consulate during the Democratic National Convention.

Video footage showed protesters burning a U.S. flag and throwing signs at police as they demonstrated outside the Israeli consulate in downtown Chicago.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Wednesday that the protest group showed up with the intent of committing acts of violence.

“We declared a mass arrest after our officers were physically confronted and attacked,” Snelling said.

Snelling said female officers did not lose their cool when they were targeted by protesters.

"The vicious, nasty, sexual, sexually-explicit things that were said to those women (were) absolutely disgusting,” Snelling stated.

The superintendent said between 55 and 60 people were arrested, as protests intensified on the second day of the Democratic National Convention.

"We will not allow people to come to this city, disrespect it and destroy it," Snelling said. "Enough is enough."

Some protesters claimed that the police response was overwhelming. Snelling insisted that the response was not excessive.

“The word ‘overwhelming,' if that’s the word they used, then we were 100% successful, because that’s what we wanted to do,” Snelling said.

First responders took two of the people who were arrested to the hospital, where they were treated and released. One was for knee pain and one for a finger injury, Snelling said.

"We also had two officers who were injured who refused treatment because they didn't want to leave their fellow officers from the scene," he said. "They wanted to stay there and continue to work toward keeping this city safe. Couldn't have anything more noble happen."

Snelling said there were also counter-protests, but they were peaceful.

Three journalists were among those arrested, he said. The superintendent asked media not to place themselves between police and the people they are trying to arrest.

“If you’re not moving, if you’re not complying with our orders at that time, you may be breaking the law yourselves,” Snelling said.