Dread Head Cowboy’s Dan Ryan protest

Chicago’s “Dread Head Cowboy” — otherwise known as Adam Hollingsworth — rode his horse Nunu onto the Dan Ryan Expressway to protest violence against children on Sept. 21, 2020.

The ride, which started about 4:30 p.m., started at 35th Street when Hollingsworth rode onto the southbound lanes. Holding back traffic as police cars and motorcycles tailed him, he galloped down the Dan Ryan and eventually exited at 95th Street.

Authorities said they later found Hollingsworth’s horse collapsed on the pavement near 95th Street, overheated, dehydrated, bleeding from the hooves, and with dilated eyes.

Hollingsworth rode his horse to exhaustion, authorities said. He was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, a felony, and several misdemeanors: reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, obstructing traffic and criminal trespass to state supported property.

After posting bail, Hollingsworth pleaded Sept. 24, 2020, for the spotlight to fall on youths at risk for gun violence and not the felony count of animal cruelty he’s facing following.

“My focus is on the ‘Kids Lives Matter’ because if you look up the history of when it comes down to kids getting killed, 2020 is the highest rate … and it ain’t right,” Hollingsworth said. “Everybody is trying to steer away from that part, and that is very important — that is an important topic we need to stick on.”