© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State Police Response To Highway Protest Cost $200,000

Flickr user Alan Cordova

The state's response to a protest that shut down a Chicago highway cost taxpayers about $200,000.

WBBM-TV says the cost of managing protesters on the Dan Ryan Expressway on July 7 was about $200,000. Thousands of people turned out to call for more jobs and education opportunities and to draw attention to violence in poor neighborhoods.

Hundreds of troopers, sergeants and others were on duty during the protest. The march stretched from 67th Street to 79th Street. No arrests or injuries were reported.

Illinois State Police director Leo Schmitz described that day as "uncharted territory."