Unrest and violence erupted in the center of Chicago early on Monday
after weeks of bubbling tension
protests on Sunday after
a man was shot by police
More than 100 people were arrested on Monday
after pockets of disruption escalated
escalated overnight into looting … and some destruction
the trouble in the downtown area
Police superintendent David Brown said … “not an organized protest” but instead “an incident of pure criminality”
began following the shooting of a person by police
“This was straight-up, felony criminal conduct,” said Chicago’s mayor
“This was an assault on our city.”
Hundreds of people were seen damaging storefronts and stealing goods
There was a large police presence on Monday morning outside an Apple store
Train and bus service into downtown was temporarily suspended
Bridges over the Chicago River were lifted, preventing travel to and from the downtown area
Illinois state police blocked some expressway ramps into downtown
police were investigating the possible link between the latest unrest and the shooting of the man
But she said there “cannot be any excuse”
“brazen and extensive criminal looting and destruction”
“This has nothing to do with first amendment expression. This was straight-up felony, criminal conduct.”
“It’s deeply painful for every Chicagoan, it’s an assault on our city”
unnamed man who was
shot by police
thought to be in his teens or early 20s
outbreaks of violence of varying intensity
culminating in Sunday night’s chaos
underlying factors such as a history of extreme inequality between different neighborhoods
policing problems
Deep-seated problems have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the related cratering of the economy and tension with police
“This is a failure of leadership,” tweeted … an alderman
“A failure to act on information.”
“We have seen this before.”
“how do we protect the other neighborhoods”
“How do you hold these criminals accountable.”
the vandalism and thefts were occurring in the broader context of surging unemployment, healthcare disparities in the pandemic and community anger at police for disproportionately targeting people of color
“We not only have criminals on the streets, we have criminals in corporate boardrooms and criminals in government. People are starving,”
“The solution isn’t to just lock them all up.”
sporadic clashes with police in other cities over the weekend
largely peaceful protests splintered on the fringe
Police donned riot gear … and, guns drawn, advanced upon protesters
protests that had been largely calm … were marred later by a clash
Law enforcement officers … declared the situation a riot
US State Dept.’s Advisory for France – Level 3: Reconsider Travel:
Reconsider travel to France due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest.
…
Demonstrations in Paris and other major cities continue in France and are expected to continue in the coming weeks. Property damage, including looting and arson, in populated tourist areas has occurred with reckless disregard for public safety. Police have responded with water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas. The U.S. Embassy is advising official U.S. government travelers to avoid travel to Paris and other major cities in France on the weekends.