2 arrested at North Side anti-racist demonstration released

Two men charged for their alleged actions during an anti-white supremacy protest Tuesday night on the North Side have been released from Cook County Jail on electronic monitoring.

The rally, organized by Black Rose-Rosa Negra Chicago, Haymaker Chicago and other community groups, began at 9:30 p.m. outside the Cook County courthouse at 2452 W. Belmont.

The goal of the rally was to “denounce the CPD as complicit in the structures of white supremacy that give rise to fascism, and demand the immediate release of community members arrested earlier today,” a statement by the organizers prior to the rally said.

Thomas Rainey, 50, of Rogers Park faces felony counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer and resisting or obstructing a peace officer, police said.

He was arrested while officers were attempting to place someone else into custody and “repeatedly pushed officers using his hands and hips in an attempt to defeat a lawful arrest,” police said.

Ezra Arreola, 28, of Pilsen faces felony counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer and reckless conduct, police said.

Arreola walked into the middle of the intersection at Belmont and Western and headed west on Belmont. Despite being asked “numerous times” to exit the street and walk on the sidewalk, officers tried to take him into custody but he pulled away, police said.

Both Rainey and Arreola were released on electronic monitoring, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. They are next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 22 at Branch 42 at 2452 W. Belmont.

A third man, Ian Walsh, 25, of North Center, was also arrested during the demonstration, police said. He faces one misdemeanor count of aggravated assault of a peace officer.

Walsh approached an officer and tried to strike the officer with an object before he was subdued and taken into custody, police said. He is also scheduled to appear in court Sept. 22.

A police source said the commander of the 19th District was injured during the protest.