Chicago's 'Teen Takeover' Leads to Violence; New Mayor's Response Criticized
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Violent unrest in downtown Chicago over the weekend led to more than a dozen arrests, and the city's new mayor made comments on the unrest that drew criticism.
The Details: Video shows crowds of young people fighting and vandalizing public property over the weekend during what many sources labeled a "Teen Takeover" in Chicago's Loop neighborhood. At least two teenagers were shot and are reportedly in fair condition; no fatalities were reported. At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the unrest, though no suspects were in custody for the shooting.
Key Quotes: The violence "is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities," Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said in a statement.
For Context: Johnson won the city's mayoral race earlier this month. Incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost amid widespread disapproval of her handling of crime.
How the Media Covered It: Many right-rated sources, as well as some center-rated like Newsweek (Center bias), highlighted criticism of Johnson's "not constructive to demonize" remark, and tied it to past comments he made about defunding the police. Most left- and center-rated sources highlighted Johnson's comments but didn't mention criticism of them. Axios (Lean Left) mentioned how in Chicago, "violent crime rates typically rise during the warmer months."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Brandon Johnson's Response to Chicago 'Teen Takeover' Condemned: 'Disaster'
Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson's response to the chaos that erupted in the downtown area over the weekend has sparked criticism from conservatives.
Hundreds of young people descended on the Millennium Park area for a "Teen Takeover" event on Saturday night. Videos posted on social media showed teenagers fighting in the streets, jumping on the roof of a bus, breaking into vehicles and setting them on fire.
Two boys—aged 16 and 17—who were standing in a crowd the 100 block of East Washington Street were wounded when shots were fired at...
From the Right
‘Not Constructive to Demonize’: Incoming Chicago Mayor Defends Teens after Weekend Violence
After hundreds of teenagers and young adults descended on the Loop in downtown Chicago over the weekend, destroying cars and brawling in the streets, mayor-elect Brandon Johnson cautioned against “demonizing” the vandals.
It “is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities,” Johnson said in a statement released on Sunday.
“Our city must work together to create spaces for youth to gather safely and responsibly, under adult guidance and supervision, to ensure that every part of our city remains welcome for both residents and...
From the Left
Crowds of teens wreak havoc in downtown Chicago over the weekend
Hundreds of teens took over Chicago's Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park this past weekend, with videos showing crowds stomping and dancing on parked cars downtown.
Driving the news: Police are also investigating after two teens were shot in the Loop on Saturday night. They're both in fair condition. No one is in custody in connection with the shooting, as of late Sunday.
Why it matters: Violent crime rates typically rise during the warmer months, and Chicago's first warm weekend brought the same chaos that led Mayor Lori Lightfoot and police to institute a curfew...
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