Chicago Descends Further InTo Lawless Anarchy As Thousands Go On Rampage Looting and Rioting In City’s Business District
Hundreds of looters mobilised through social-media were caught on camera indulging in wanton looting in Chicago’s upscale Magnificent Mile and other shopping areas, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The widespread looting, which started late on Sunday and continued till early hours of Monday, is said to have been triggered after the city police shot a man in a predominantly black neighborhood. The police officers say that he had fired on them first.
Several videos posted to social media showed large mobs breaking windows and entering stores along the Magnificent Mile, State Street and parts of the Gold Coast neighborhood, South Loop and Near North Sides.
As thousands of people went on a looting spree, the city authorities raised bridges leading to the downtown area and halted public transportation.
Two people were shot, 13 police officers were injured and more than 100 arrests have been made, Chicago police said on Monday morning.
Describing the large-scale looting as unacceptable, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that the police will work with other city agencies to enforce the restrictions and make sure looting doesn't extend to other neighborhoods, but does not plan to bring in the National Guard.
Chicago has been grappling with a wave of shootings since the end of May. While the city has earned notoriety of being one of America's most violent cities, this year has been especially violent following coronavirus lockdowns and massive protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an African American man killed during arrest by Minneapolis police officers.
Chicago police recorded 440 homicides and 2,240 shooting victims from January-July 2020, compared with 290 homicides and 1,480 shooting victims over the same period in 2019. Chicago shootings are up roughly 50% year-to-date compared with the same period of 2019.
Chicago saw widespread looting and rioting during the weekend after Floyd’s death in late May.