RIVER NORTH — Young poets who planned to read at Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's on Wednesday night ended up in a park after they say the fast-food restaurant called police.
About 75 people arrived at the McDonald's, 600 N. Clark St., for a "McPoems" event, only to find that the second-floor space they were planning to use was cordoned off.
McPoems organizer Marcel Alcalá said, despite prior assurances, the store manager expressed concerns Wednesday about the group using a video camera and small sound system to document the event.
Alcalá said the manager told the group it could stay in the restaurant for the poetry reading, but then immediately called police. Alcalá, a California native who previously hosted poetry readings at McDonald's stores in suburban Highland Park and Los Angeles, said Wednesday was the first time police were called in response to his poetry event.
"They purposely intimidated us," he said. "It’s just funny that in Chicago, they’ll call the cops and a couple of cop cars will come by with eight guys cracking down on the poets. We're just reading from paper."
David Matthews says the group tried to move to another McDonald's:
Courtesy of Facebook/McPoems
A Chicago Police spokesman confirmed that police responded at 7:15 p.m. to a call of "75 peaceful protesters" at the restaurant. Store manager Temoor Bakht did not return messages seeking comment.
Alcalá said police followed the group to another McDonald's at 10 E. Chicago Ave. Feeling pressure from police there, they then attempted to read from the steps of the Museum of Contemporary Art, where security told them to leave.
So the group, with 30 performers, ultimately ended up at the nearby Jane M. Byrne Plaza surrounding the Old Chicago Water Tower.
Photo by DNAinfo/David Matthews
Despite the abrupt change of plans — and venues — Alcalá said he was pleased with the event. He plans to continue hosting "McPoems" readings, just maybe not here.
"We’re going to keep on doing it in Los Angeles. It’s never been an issue [there]. They’ve been accommodating," Alcalá said. "It's never happened before that the cops make us leave, but it’s so Chicago."
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