‘Pattern of Extreme Brutality’: Tear Gas, Pepper Balls Among Weapons Deployed Against Protesters in Illinois

Bellingcat analyzes videos and local reports from 28 events in Illinois during DHS’s Operation Midway Blitz (Oct 9–27), identifying multiple instances where federal agents appeared to use tear gas, pepper spray, less-lethal launchers, and forceful tactics without evident immediate threats or audible warnings—potentially violating a court-issued TRO restricting crowd-control measures. The investigation highlights specific incidents (e.g., Little Village GL-06 launcher use, alleged pepper-spray drive-by in Cicero, forceful arrests in Hoffman Estates and Little Village, and dispersal orders in public spaces), contrasts these observations with DHS statements, and notes ongoing legal scrutiny as the TRO nears expiration.