Mayor Lori Lightfoot denounces vigilantism in Chicago after white men patrol Bridgeport streets

[mucifer]

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will not tolerate vigilantism after groups of mostly white men patrolled the streets of Bridgeport on Wednesday night in response to a nearby city protest.

Multiple streets were blocked in the Bridgeport neighborhood Wednesday night as nearby protests dispersed. Near West Pershing Road, water gushed from an open fire hydrant as small groups gathered on corners. Some of the men held bats. One wore a shirt that said “All Lives Matter,” one sipped a beer and another waved at an officer as he drove by. Additional groups of people, some armed with bats, lined West 31st Street.

Asked about the situation in Bridgeport, a diversifying neighborhood that served as an Irish American power base for the Daley political family, Lightfoot said, “It is absolutely not appropriate for people to take up arms, bats, pipes, whatever in patrolling neighborhoods.”

“We’ve seen that end with tragic results across the country and we’re not about to allow that practice to happen here in Chicago. If there’s an issue, call 911,” Lightfoot said. “I absolutely support neighbors being vigilant as to what’s going on on the streets and in their blocks but taking up arms, that leads to chaos and we’re not supporting vigilantism in the city of Chicago under any circumstances.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-bridgeport-lightfoot-opposes-vigilantism-20200604-jilfdhgmqjellfblozywe5iesa-story.html

The neighborhood of Bridgeport Chicago has historically been an area of white supremacy in my city. It's also the area where Mayor Daley Sr. and Mayor Daley Jr lived.

[SamKnause]

1. As a 67 year old white woman these people are nothing but white trash.

[beachbumbob]

2. I can not really condemn any neighborhood where people want to defend their

property from rioters and looters if that does happen with absence of law of enforcement. Rioters and looters are not victims

[mopinko]

4. that's not what they are doing. they are getting their yayas intimidating people.

this isnt a neighborhood watch. it is what the mayor says it is.
vigilantes.

[former9thward]

5. I live in Chicago and the mayor is wrong.

She pulled all the police to defend the rich on the north side (she had 300 cops surround her home) and left the south and west sides to fend for themselves.

In my neighborhood people are defending, Yes -- with baseball bats and guns -- neighborhood stores. And will continue to do so.

[mopinko]

7. i've got no issue w protecting. it is something else when you go out searching

for crimes not yet committed. and assuming the perps are all dark skinned.

[beachbumbob]

8. so you know these people DID NOT LIVE IN THE neighborhood?

[mopinko]

9. i didnt say that. i said it wasnt a watch.

[nycbos]

3. As an adopted Chicagoan...

... I am not at all surprised this happened in Bridgeport. I actually guessed that where this would be before I clicked on the link.

[former9thward]

6. It is going on all over the city.

Not just Bridgeport -- which is no longer white BTW. And it will continue as long as the police are absent.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. My mom was from the Chicago area

Neighborhoods tend to be a little clannish.