FIRE BURNING; DEMONSTRATORS BREAK WINDOWS; POLICE CLASH WITH DEMONSTRATORS.




Initials PK/N-SAT-TELE/CT/OS


EDITORS: COMMENTATOR'S VOICE IS FOR GUIDANCE ONLY

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: HUNDRED OF YOUNG AMERICAN DEMONSTRATORS, MANY OF THEM WEARING HELMETS AND HEAVY BOOTS, SMASHED WINDOWS AND BATTERED CARS AS THEY SURGED THROUGH THE STREETS OF CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE IN A PARADE OF VIOLENCE OF VIOLENCE LAST NIGHT (WEDNESDAY). TWO PEOPLE WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SHOT AND WOUNDED IN THE CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND THE ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATORS.

THE VIOLENCE FOLLOWED A RALLY IN PARK. THE DEMONSTRATORS BROKE INTO SMALL BANDS AND MARCHED TOWARD THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DISTRICT SEVERAL MILES (KILOMETRES) AWAY.

AS THEY PASSED BUSINESS PREMISES THEY BEGAN THROWING STONES AND BOTTLES. A NUMBER OF STORE WINDOWS AND CAR WINDSCREENS WERE SMASHED BEFORE POLICE MOVED IN.

ONE GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE MILITANT STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE HOME OF FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE JULIUS HOFMAN, THE PRESIDING JUDGE AT A CONSPIRACY TRIAL BEING HELD IN WHICH EIGHT POLITICAL ACTIVISTS ARE ACCUSED OVER RIOTING DURING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN CHICAGO LAST YEAR.

HUNDREDS OF POLICE CONVERGED ON THE AREA AND PREVENTED THE DEMONSTRATORS FROM REACHING THEIR OBJECTIVE.

SCORES OF THE RIOTERS WERE ARRESTED.