'Organized Effort' Led To Looting In Chicago: Lightfoot
CHICAGO, IL — Peaceful protests in response to the death of George Floyd turned violent Saturday due to a destructive effort that was "organized and choreographed” and involved groups pulling car caravans up to businesses, bashing windows and "hauling out merchandise," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Sunday in a news conference. Officials also believe the reports of arson across the city, including buildings and vehicles set ablaze, was a part of that coordinated effort.
It’s not clear at this point who, or which organization, lead the effort but the Chicago Police Department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to investigate.
On Sunday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced 375 Illinois National Guard members have been deployed to the city to assist and offer support to the Chicago Police Department and set up a perimeter “so the center of the city doesn’t get overtaken,” as seemed to be the case “during times last night.”
Prirtzker signed a disaster proclamation for Cook County to expedite state resources, personnel and equipment. The National Guard will work with Chicago officers to enforce street closures across the city.
City officials have ordered limited access to The Loop and the downtown business district from Division Street to 26th Street between Halsted Street and Lake Shore Drive. CTA service has also been suspended for trains and buses coming in and out of the Loop for public safety reasons, city officials said.
In addition, soldiers from the Illinois National Guard, Illinois State Police officers and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency are aiding the city of Chicago, according to a news release from IEMA. And the State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring operations throughout the state and fulfilling requests from local governments as reports of looting began to crop up in suburban communities across the Chicago area on Sunday afternoon.
In Orland Park and Tinley Park, three arrests have been made in connection with the reported looting. One adult and one juvenile were arrested in connection to an attempted robbery at a jewelry store on 151st Street, and one person has been charged with disorderly conduct at the mall, Orland Park Patch is reporting.
The entrances to the mall are blocked, and several other businesses in both Orland and Tinley have closed as precautions and preparations for more damage to come later on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a number of windows of businesses in the city's Beverly neighborhood have been broken, an Evergreen Park police officer confirmed around 2:45 p.m. This as the mayors in Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn have urged residents to remain calm on rumors of looting and rioting there.
Some towns, like Oak Lawn, have issued a curfew starting for Sunday night "out of an abundance of caution" due to events happening in other communities around Oak Lawn. Lightfoot issued a similar curfew on Saturday night, which started at 9 p.m. in the city and continued through 6 a.m.
In Downers Grove, police are advising businesses to close and residents to stay home Sunday evening after police say people looted a Best Buy in town on Saturday.
Many more unfounded reports of rioting and protests, most that have been unfounded, have been circulating over social media. Patch.com editors are actively investigating reports as they come in.
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Following the protests Sunday, Pritzker is urging the thousands who did march peacefully to now isolate themselves to prevent the potential spread of the new coronavirus — just days after the city crossed into Phase 3 of the governor’s reopening plan. While officials speaking during Sunday’s press conference agreed the protests were warranted, they also said they are concerned about a possible spike in COVID-19 cases following.
Chicago is set to partially reopen on Wednesday. Lightfoot says her office is working with public health officials following the protests to determine next steps.
“I’m worried. I’m absolutely worried about a potential outbreak following what we saw yesterday,” Lightfoot said.
The riots that erupted Saturday lead to several officers being injured, 240 arrests, six shootings and one death, and riots and looting continued on Sunday, the Chicago Tribune is reporting. At least 20 officers were sent to the hospital after being injured during the violent riots, Chicago police spokesman Howard Ludwig told the newspaper.
“There were a couple officers with broken bones, more with stitches,” he said. “And even more with bumps and bruises.”
Lightfoot said rioters that infiltrated the peaceful protests brought hammers, shovels, bottles of urine and excrement, Molotov cocktails and accelerants. Groups of people come by car loads and in U-Haul vans to loot and damage businesses, she said. People jumped out of their vehicles and then used metal devices to smash windows, grab merchandise from stores and then load up their cars.
“Make no mistake, this was an organized effort,” Lighfoot said. “I am confident we will get to the bottom of it.”
This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch
