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100 Occupy Chicago protesters arrested
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The Associated Press
Anti-Wall Street demonstrators of the Occupy Chicago movement stood their ground in a downtown park in a noisy but peaceful defiance of police orders to clear out, prompting at least 100 arrests early Sunday, authorities said.
Occupy Chicago spokesman Joshua Kaunert vowed after the arrests that the protesters would be coming back.
"We're not going anywhere. There are still plenty of us," Kaunert told The Associated Press after police began the wave of arrests that took more than an hour to complete.
Police began taking people into custody just before 1 a.m. Sunday. Those arrested were led in groups to vans and two large white buses.
"Take me next! Take me next!" some shouted as police began the arrests. Others chanted as they were led off: "We'll be back!"
Protesters lock arms
Officers had begun placing metal barricades around the part of Chicago's Grant Park known as Congress Plaza about 11:10 p.m. on Saturday, minutes after the park had closed.
Soon after that, police went through the crowd and warned people to leave or risk arrest for remaining in the closed park in violation of a city ordinance.
Several of the protesters who remained inside the barricades in the park sat on the ground in the chilly Chicago night air. Others locked arms and then the arrests began as trickle before picking up speed.
"One: We are the people! Two: We are united! Three: The occupation is not leaving!" demonstrators shouted. Others joined in from just outside the park.
Police said they made approximately 100 arrests early Sunday but did not have a specific count. Kaunert said he expected the final figure to be higher after late arrests but police did not immediately return later calls seeking comment.
Kaunert said those arrested were non-violent.
"Everybody was very peaceful and smiling and there was no violence, though a lot of chanting," he said.
He urged authorities to let the people resume protesting peacefully against the perceived corporate greed and other ills they see on Wall Street and elsewhere. He noted it was the second straight weekend that arrests had been made in the park after 175 arrests the previous Sunday after protesters set up tents past public hours.
"The police came in and again took away our right to free speech and assembly," he said.
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