ArtefaktPreserve
South Side - S. Chicago. The Ghetto Bird aka Chicago Police Helicopter was flying above the 'hood tonight. Sirens were blaring and Felix said something was happening South. Ran to the car and started rolling. I didn't have the scanner on so I just rolled around checking the neighborhood. Must've passed at least five situations with black and brown guys against the cop cars being questioned. Those are the hardest to roll up on. When the cops are jackknifed two or three deep against the curb and a civilian is standing their head down or pleading his case against the light. It's the hardest to stop, jump out and start shooting. Rolled south on Commercial until 91st and then I saw a few more police cars in an alley. They were parallel to the Metra Commuter rail tracks and they had a group of guys against the wall. A chain link fence divided us. I took a few snaps from the car and then got out to get a better view. 'I'm the press' I told the cops. They shone their flashlights in my face and then decided I was fine and let me shoot. The cops questioned them for a while and at one point said 'You'd better be careful cause those guys said they don't like their picture being taken!' 'Okay man.' I responded and continued shooting. The young man in the wheelchair rolled over slowly. 'What happened?' I asked. 'I don't know.' He said and I shot his pic. Then the cops took the cuffs off one of the guys on the wall and let them all go. The guys looked at me and one said in a menacing tone 'What's that? For a video show?' And in not so nice a way. I told him I didn't get his face and then headed out. He wasn't happy. The cops dispersed and the guys went back to what they were doing. I drove off. It was almost as if I had witnessed a play that happens over and over again each night and day.

© Jon Lowenstein

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