▶ There was also a shooting, injuring two teenagers… Originating from events planned on social media
Two people were shot and 15 people were arrested by the police after about 1,000 teenagers immediately gathered in downtown Chicago, one of the three largest cities in the United States, and started a riot.
According to the Chicago Press and Fox News on the 17th, between the night of the 15th and the early morning of the 16th, up to 1,000 teenagers broke onto Michigan Avenue in front of Millennium Park, a park in downtown Chicago, and drove en masse , broke car windows and set fire to them. They caused great confusion by dancing on top of buses and cars that were in the middle.
Shooting happened on one side, and two teenagers (aged 16 and 17) were injured in their arms and legs, respectively.
An eyewitness said, “The group fought in groups, chasing each other and threatening each other.”
Another witness said, “Young people were playing loud music on Bluetooth speakers and running erratically on the road, blocking traffic.”
Another witness said, “The mob of teenagers broke the front window and attacked my husband who was sitting in the passenger seat. He went to nearby Northwestern University Hospital and received treatment.”
A police patrol car was also targeted, but no officers were reported injured. Most of the 15 people arrested were charged with reckless conduct, one charged with possession of a firearm and two with possession of a stolen vehicle.
Tourists panicked about the sudden situation, and the police guided them to safe places such as hotels and parking lots, Fox News reported.
The NBC Chicago broadcast said that the riot on this day originated from the planned ‘Teen Takeover of the city’ event on social media (SNS), and said, “The message ‘Let’s gather in Millennium Park on night of the 15th’,” he recounted.
Since last summer, the city of Chicago has not admitted unaccompanied youth to Millennium Park after 6pm on weekends (Thursday to Sunday).
The decision was made after the black community protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in May 2020 spread to looting and rioting in downtown Chicago.
Chicago police barred teenagers from entering Millennium Park.
Then, some tried to trespass, while others started rioting from all over the street.
In this regard, conservatives noted that “the hypocrisy and incompetence of the Democratic Party politicians worsens the situation of ‘security absence’ in Chicago.”
Mayor Laurie Lightfoot (60, Democrat) said in a statement on the 17th, “We can never allow public spaces to become platforms for criminal activity. “We will be built,” he said.
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson (47, Democrat) said, “The destructive behavior we saw last weekend is completely unacceptable,” he said.
He added, “We will create a space where young people can gather safely and take part in responsible activities while ensuring that residents and visitors are welcome in all parts of our city.”
