Unauthorized Party Creates Chaos In The Streets Of Chicago

Chicago Alderman Michele Smith of Chicago’s 43rd ward said a group of roughly 400 people, aged 14-21, took over the streets of downtown Chicago. Videos posted to social media show the group jumping on vehicles and taking over the streets of downtown Chicago and North Avenue Beach at an event that was “anonymously promoted via social media and encouraged people to bring their own alcohol and drugs.”

“The event advertising said it was open to all ages and would feature a drinking contest, boxing matches, and twerking contests. This promoted event was unpermitted by the City and the Park District,” she said in a Thursday statement. “Police received advance warning of the event and placed extensive resources at every entrance to the beach, including the pedestrian bridge.”

Chicago officers recovered “a significant amount of alcohol” from the event. When the group began to disperse from North Avenue Beach, Chicago small groups gathered at gas stations and other businesses in the area, but “no one was hurt, and very few arrests were necessary,” Smith said.

A group that gathered near Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mansion, prompted police to proactively block the area with staged snow plows.

CPD said that “police responded to a crowd of youths which were dispersed from the beach and monitored as they left the area,” and made “one arrest…for open alcohol on the public way.”

Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and budget director for the city, posted video footage of a mass of people jumping on buses during the chaotic night.

“Tonight downtown is in absolute chaos. Juveniles jumping on top of buses, cars, terrorizing residents, tourists & businesses,” he wrote. “These mass groups fought the CPD & only minimal arrests were made. Why? Because CPD isn’t allowed to, they have no plan & they don’t have enough manpower.”

In a May 9 op-ed for the Chicago Tribune, Vallas pointed to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police Chief David Brown’s “closure of the city’s Juvenile Intervention and Support Center” (JISC) as a reason behind a recent surge in juvenile crime.