This will be long, but I want to share what happened in South Chicago yesterday, as relayed to me by the activists with Bridges // Puentes.

Police arrived in force and demanded they remove an art installation they had worked on for two hours. #chicagoprotest #chicagoprotests

Bridges activists decided to install a lighted memorial for #VanessaGuillen and #BreonnaTaylor at the site of the removed Columbus Statue in South Chicago. They also planned a vigil.

The empty spot seemed like an ideal choice for some community art. #sayhername

The group included three adults, a senior, and a toddler. In the two hours that activists were at the site, they experienced overwhelming support from the community. Drivers stopped to look and talk. Seniors from the senior home across the street expressed their gratitude.

Activists did two days of research on the site, noting that the gate was open. They did not clip or break anything to enter. They only used ropes, tape, and zip ties in their installation; nothing was permanently attached in a way that would compromise the landmark.

Despite their thoughtfulness in placing the memorial, the police arrived in force--an estimated 14 officers, accompanied by a paddy wagon.

Here’s the full video of what happened next.

#chicagoprotest #chicagoprotests #vanessaguillen #breonnataylor #sayhername

One officer threatens to seize the art and take it to Homan Square. As one of the Bridges members begins dialing Alderwoman Susan Sadowski Garza and another begins taking down the art, that same officer aggressively approaches the art.

Alderwoman Garza did come to the scene after she was called, which activists commend her immensely for. She told them they will still have to go through proper channels to place art at the site (organizers are unsure if that's a real option).

The art was moved to a backup location. After the sun dipped down, the lights began to twinkle.

It’s a moving tribute to #VanessaGuillen and #BreonnaTaylor in a majority Latinx community also heavily populated with veterans. #sayhername #ChicagoProtests

Organizers are grateful the situation was de-escalated, but the show of force by CPD in response to a harmless community art project at the site of an removed statue was shocking.

Activists felt intimidated by police, and that they were being unnecessarily aggressive.

If you want to support the ongoing work Bridges is doing on the far Southeast side, please follow their FB page here and show your support: https://www.facebook.com/Bridges-Puentes-Justice-Collective-of-the-Southeast-106566177782542/

#VanessaGuillen #BreonnaTaylor art by Adan Ramirez; photos & video provided by Bridges. #ChicagoProtests

(It's worth noting here that the backup location activists were forced to move their art to is indeed much less visible than the original site.

Here's hoping they'll be allowed to move it back sometime soon.)