Protest marathon
05/20/2012 5:00 AM
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Protestors and police headed south near 1500 S. Michigan Avenue
Crowd at the intersection of 16th and Michigan Avenue
The streets of the South Loop were empty Saturday. Parking restrictions were in full effect on Michigan Avenue and anyone that dared to park between signs was promptly towed. The scene was familiar to residents as the annual Chicago marathon route clears traffic and keeps residents from leaving their homes. Street sweepers were out and taking advantage of a clear street to scrub and I couldn't help but hope that they would be back Monday night to do it again after the planned NATO protest route. This time to clean up debris left by protestors instead of discarded water bottles and signs to cheer runners on to accomplishing their marathon.
Late in the day protestors, instead of marathoners, appeared south bound on Michigan Avenue in front of Old St. Mary's and Weathermark Tavern. They headed to 18th and were turned around by police where an arrest was made. The approximate 200 protestors turned west and then eventually headed north up State street.
Today, the marathon didn't end in the South Loop and residents were not cheering on runners but I can't help hoping for October when we have something to cheer for.
- Jeanette Johnson