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Confusion erupted on the Northwest Side Friday after a masked federal agent dropped canisters of chemical irritants into the street outside Rico Fresh Market, 3552 West Armitage Ave.
In a video taken by a witness and shared with the Sun-Times, cars could be seen blocking the white, unmarked SUV before a masked agent rolled down his window and dropped the canisters. Smoke begins spreading around the vehicle and passersby began to scream.
Someone on the sidewalk then volleyed at least one of the canisters back at the vehicle before it sped off.
David Beale, 39, was on his way to the gym shortly after noon when he noticed a Blackhawk helicopter and Department of Homeland Security vehicle in the area.
Beale told a WBEZ reporter that the federal agents have been targeting the grocery store since the beginning of Operation Midway Blitz, President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign in the Chicago area.
At least 10 cars, 10 people and six bikes lined up to stop the vehicle from moving down the street, Beale said.
“One [vehicle] came up by the grocery store here,” Beale said. “A bunch of cars and cyclists and people on foot formed a human blockade.”
“This is tyranny, this is absolute tyranny,” Beale added, and said he and onlookers in the parking lot were tear gassed. “My eyes are burning, my skin is burning, but more than that I’m just mad.”
The Sun-Times has not confirmed if arrests were made before the scene erupted.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection didn’t immediately respond to questions asking for further details on the situation.
Federal immigration agents have used chemical irritants like tear gas and “pepper balls” against protesters amid escalating demonstrations outside the ICE processing facility in suburban Broadview.
In a statement, Illinois state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado said she was “outraged” to learn that the skirmish happened near a school in her district. Funston Elementary School, 3616 West Armitage Ave, is near the parking lot where the confrontation happened.
“Donald Trump is continuing to use ICE to terrorize our communities and it is entirely unacceptable,” she said in the statement. “Children deserve to learn in peace in their classrooms and families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods.”
Contributing: Katie O’Connell, Kaitlyn Jakola
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Mohammad Samra
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