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Draft Town Protesters Released From Police Custody, Activists Say

By Evan F. Moore | May 1, 2016 10:22am | Updated on May 1, 2016 2:14pm

SOUTH LOOP — 17 protesters who were arrested at Saturday's Draft Town demonstration were released from police custody later that night, according to activist Monica Trinidad. 

The protesters blocked northbound traffic by Jackson St. and Lake Shore Drive and disrupted NFL Draft Town to demand the firing of Chicago Police detective Dante Servin and urge permanent funding to Chicago State University.

At 12:45 p.m., 17 women were arrested for obstructing traffic by non-motorists, said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago Police spokesman. 

The offense was a violation of a municipal ordinance 9-80-180, Estrada said.

The women were released from police custody after posting I-Bonds.

Tess Raser, a member of Assata's Daughters, was one of the women arrested. She told DNAinfo that the protest was a successful one. 

"Often times, we don't hear stories about how black women are victims of the criminal justice system. We are the most-targeted by that system," Raser said. "As the protest went on, our #DontPayDanteServin hashtag was trending."

Raser, a teacher by trade, says the plight of Chicago State should have all the publicity it can get. 

"There should be national attention brought to the fact that a predominately black school is losing funding," Raser said. "We wanted to connect those issues. There's a divestment in the things our communities need the most."

The court date for the 17 protesters is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 31. 

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