CHICAGO — Chicago Police officers hit the city’s Police Board president with a baton while he was in a protest Sunday in Hyde Park, according to a WTTW report.
Ghian Foreman, president of the Chicago Police Board, told Heather Cherone at WTTW officers hit his legs five times with their batons during the protest. He has filed a complaint with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
Foreman said he was left with two bruises and they were painful, according to WTTW.
The day after the protest, during a press conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police Supt. David Brown, Foreman told reporters he wouldn’t have “had the same restraint” officers showed during weekend protests.
“At the same time, I understand the frustration of the community. People are tired. People are tired of this,” Foreman said. “Mayor, yeah, our kids are watching, but so are our ancestors. I can’t help but think about my grandmother telling me stories of her house being bombed and what they fought for to get me in a position to stand up here today.
“I’m not here because I’m the Police Board president; I’m here because I love you. … One day I won’t be the Police Board president but I’ll be a dad, I’ll be a son.”
In all, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability has received 344 complaints about police misconduct since Friday, when protests started over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The office investigates police misconduct and then reports its findings — as well as recommendations about how to discipline officers — the Police Department.
Foreman is president of the Chicago Police Board, an independent body made up of civilians that decides on discipline in cases involving officers.
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