CHICAGO — Demonstrators aiming to close Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway to protest gun violence achieved part of their goal Saturday morning, gathering on at least one northbound lane as a line of police officers created a barrier to keep other lanes open to traffic. Some stopped to scrawl on the road with chalk: “Enough is enough” and “Peace.” Toward the front of the march the Rev. '”

The march took place along the northbound lanes of Interstate 94, known as the Dan Ryan Expressway, after a roughly hourlong standoff between police and the protesters. He tried to be an obstruction,” Pfleger told CNN affiliate WGN. Jesse Jackson, also at the protest, told demonstrators by megaphone: “We will not march on the side of the highway. Shortly before the march, state police director Leo Schmitz told reporters: “Illinois State Police will take necessary steps to ensure we prevent (anyone) from getting hurt.”

“This whole thing is great if no one gets hurt and we can get it done,” Schmitz said. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church, crowdedonto the highway on the South Side to protest the city's high gun violence rates . They’re calling for “national common sense guns laws” and, for their communities, more public resources, more jobs, better schools and economic development.
Demonstrators protesting against gun violence block Interstate 94 in Chicago.