At least 55 protesters were arrested following violent clashes with police in Chicago on the second night of the Democratic National Convention, a situation the city's police chief called "a danger to our city."
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Wednesday that those arrested outside the Israeli Consulate, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the United Center where Democrats were meeting, 'showed up with the intention of committing acts of violence, vandalism."
"As the Chicago Police Department, we did everything that we could to de-escalate that situation," Snelling said during a news conference. "But there's only so much de-escalation that you can attempt before it becomes excessive repetition."
The intense confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and officers began minutes into the demonstration, after some protesters - many dressed in black, their faces covered - charged at a line of police that had blocked their march. They eventually moved past the officers but were penned in several times throughout the night by police in riot gear who did not allow protesters to disperse.
Snelling said protesters showed up to "fight with the police"."
