Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Deploys Dozens of Police Officers to Guard Her Home
City police form human barricade around mayor's home
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Not long after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the removal of a Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park, she deployed dozens of police officers to guard her block where she lives.
Chicago has become such a hotbed of violence that President Donald Trump has been forced to send in federal police to help quell the ongoing unrest.
CBS Chicago reported that 1,000 protesters gathered in Logan Square Thursday night calling for racial justice and police reform.
The protesters were gathered at Kimball and Wrightwood avenues, close to where Mayor Lori Lightfoot lives, as of 9:15 p.m.
Now: CPD estimating 1000 to 1500 people marching toward the home of @LoriLightfoot. Some wearing gloves and googles. All per internal CPD communication. #Chicago
— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) July 24, 2020
The group included representatives of Black Lives Matter and Good Kids Mad City, and they are also calling for the defunding of police.
The protest began at the actual Logan Square at Milwaukee and Kedzie avenues. It grew considerably as it moved through the neighborhood.
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Meanwhile, video and photos of protesters near Lightfoot’s home dancing in the streets were captured by a photographer who posted on Twitter:
“Words can’t express how live Chicago is right now, near the Mayor’s block. Ask the photos. #ChicagoProtests #LoganSquareLockdown #DefundCPD,” Vashon Jordan Jr. tweeted.
Folks are manning the barricade with umbrellas as a organizer encourages protesters to "put hands on" any agitators they see.
— Tyler LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) July 24, 2020
The police presence here has nearly doubled since they got here.#Chicago #ChicagoProtests pic.twitter.com/NOx1lWIQ2U
Many of the protesters were not social distancing and not wearing masks.
CBS Chicago reported on the statue removal:
After protests, demonstrations, and violent clashes with police, Chicago’s Christopher Columbus statues have been removed from both Grant Park and Arrigo Park.
CBS 2’s Marissa Parra reported crowds cheered overnight as the Grant Park statue was removed by the city.
The statue in Little Italy was removed early Friday morning. A third statue of Columbus in the South Shore neighborhood has not been removed.
The statue, which is part of a fountain, was built in 1892 and moved to its current location at 92nd Street and Exchange Avenues in 1909. It was built to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the New World according to the city’s website. Before it was moved to South Chicago, it stood outside City Hall on Washington Street.
#BREAKING: Chicago’s Columbus statue in Grant Park is getting removed overnight by the city now @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/apis1VzCwZ
— Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) July 24, 2020
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Alderman Raymond Lopez tweeted:
“What has become of Chicago? We have a mayor forced into submission by anarchy & mob-rule?
"No more public process, official discourse, or on-the-record debate.
"The lesson learned is that if you want action from Lightfoot, show up en mass at her house & she will cave every time."
What has become of Chicago? We have a mayor forced into submission by anarchy & mob-rule? No more public process, official discourse, or on-the-record debate. The lesson learned is that if you want action from Lightfoot, show up en mass at her house & she will cave every time.
— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) July 24, 2020
“This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city’s symbols,” Lightfoot said in a statement.
“In addition, our public safety resources must be concentrated where they are most needed throughout the city, and particularly in our South and West Side communities.”
