5 Arrested Amid Trump Protests in Downtown Chicago

A swarm of protesters at one point climbed atop a halted CTA bus

At least five people were arrested during demonstrations Wednesday night in downtown Chicago following Donald Trump's victory during the presidential election. 

Nearly 2,000 protesters marched in downtown streets, shutting down Lake Shore Drive and chanting angry slogans about the president elect outside Trump Tower, according to a Chicago Police Department estimate.

Demonstrators carried signs and shouted "Donald Trump has got to go," and "We reject the president elect," after a crowd of a few dozen grew into multiple groups totalling at about 1,800, sparking a huge police presence downtown as the evening wore on.

Despite the traffic disruptions and protesters at times climbing onto vehicles, police said "there were no major incidents." According to authorities, two men were arrested for obstruction of traffic in a roadway, two others were arrested for reckless conduct and criminal trespass to land and a juvenile was arrested for criminal trespass to land and resisting arrest. 

"We will be ensuring adequate police coverage so that participants have an opportunity to safely assemble and demonstrate, but the department will be intolerant to any criminal or destructive activity," Chicago Police said in a statement.

A massive amount of people showed up to do just that.

"We don't stand for sexism, we don't stand for racism, homophobia--this is not my president" protester Reily O'Neil said.

The crowd also drew some Trump supporters who hoisted signs and argued with his detractors.

"I expect the Republicans to rally around [Trump] and the things they can agree on get done," Don Peterson, who drove in from Yorkville, said.

About 8 p.m. one of the large groups spilled onto Lake Shore Drive, halting traffic from Fullerton Avenue to Roosevelt Road. A swarm of protesters at one point climbed atop a stopped CTA bus. Multiple bus routes were impacted by the protesters, the transit agency tweeted Wednesday night.

Demonstrators protesting the president elect, Donald Trump, Wednesday night climbed atop a halted CTA bus after shutting down Lake Shore Drive.

The “emergency protest” was scheduled following Donald Trump’s shocking victory over Hillary Clinton.

The event, which involved groups including Answer Chicago, Freedom First International and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, originally planned to gather from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to organizers. But by 10:30 p.m., groups of protesters had fragmented into smaller packs roving downtown's streets.

“We must resist this outcome,” organizers wrote in a Facebook page for the protest. “In fact, we cannot be idle. We must get into the streets immediately. We must unite and stand with immigrants, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people, poor and working people and Black Lives Matter. Only the people can defeat racism, bigotry and hate.”

Chicago police had been stationed outside the hotel Wednesday morning prior to the protest for extra security purposes, authorities said. 

Other similar demonstrations took place in various cities throughout the United States Wednesday, with high school and college students from coast to coast staging walkouts.

Trump, who entered politics after a career in real estate and reality TV, defied pollsters and pundits Tuesday to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton for the presidency.

"Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division," Trump told a crowd of joyous supporters early Wednesday morning. "... We're going to dream of things for our country and beautiful things and successful things once again."

Clinton called Trump to concede after Trump had taken several battleground states, including Florida and Ohio.

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