BREAKING: Lake Shore Drive Shutting Down For Anti-Violence Protest
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CHICAGO (CBS)--Lake Shore Drive will shut down Thursday starting at 3:45 p.m. between Fullerton and Irving Park Road.
The entrance ramp at Irving Park were closed shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Police are asking motorists to use Ashland and Western as alternative routes.
Anti-violence protesters are assembling at Belmont and inner Lake Shore Drive at 4 p.m. after the group plans to take over a portion of Lake Shore Drive, shutting down northbound and southbound traffic. After congregating on the west side of Belmont Harbor, the group will proceed west on Belmont Avenue to Clark Street, and then north to Addison Street. Police said the protest is supposed to disband nearly Wrigley Field.
The demonstration is also drawing other organizations with differing agenda. Some protesters with the Revolutionary Communist Party arrived around 3:30 p.m.
The Cubs have added extra security for tonight's home game against the Padres.
Among the protesters' demands: the resignations of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Eddie Johnson.
Organizers said they chose their route strategically, to make North Siders pay attention to gun violence on the South Side.
Johnson said officers are committed to keeping protesters safe.
"What we won't tolerate is civil disobedience in terms of trying to storm into Wrigley Field, and things of that nature. You know, if we have to make arrests in that regard, then we will, but we will honor people's right to protest," he said.
Less than a month ago, another group of activists, led by Rev. Michael Pfleger, blocked traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway. More than 1,000 people marched on the expressway at 79th Street, stopping traffic for a few hours.
They wanted to send a message to lawmakers about what they say is a lack of resources contributing to gun violence on the South Side. That protest ended peacefully, with no arrests.
The Dan Ryan protest cost taxpayers nearly $200,000 in Illinois State Police expenses.
This is a developing story. Check CBS Chicago for updates throughout the day.
