Malcolm London, 22, was arrested shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, when police said he hit an officer in the 100 block of East Balbo Avenue near Grant Park, according to a Chicago Police Department news release.
He has been charged with one felony count of aggravated battery of a police officer. The officer was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries, the police department said.
At a press conference at City Hall Wednesday, Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) singled out London by name, and said he wanted to “applaud the youth in our community for last night’s actions, particularly the young man I mentioned previously, Malcolm London, who has been held in jail unjustly.”
“He needs to be released today, so that he can continue this activism,” Sawyer said, alleging that London was “arrested on some trumped up charges.”
Sawyer said his daughter, who “is very close friends with” London, described his arrest to the alderman as “a kidnapping” after “an unidentified white male threw a smoke bomb.”
“As soon as it was thrown, they pointed at Malcolm London,” Sawyer said. “They ambushed him.”
Sawyer described Tuesday night’s demonstrations as “a peaceful protest” of “people exercising their right to protest.”
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa alleged on Twitter that he was with London at the time of his arrest, and Tweeted an account that mirrors Sawyer’s version of events.
YO. Chicago Police framed @MalcolmLondon & wrongfully imprisoned him. He was peacefully organizing.
We were on Randolph and State talking amongst ourselves and they came and threw a smoke bomb into the crowd & grabbed him.