Sitting duck mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke to camera crews on Monday and seemed unbothered by the scenes that have taken over your newsfeed. When asked about the situation that occurred in The Loop over the weekend, Lightfoot said, “Here’s the thing: the vast majority of the young people that came downtown came downtown because it was great weather and an opportunity to enjoy the city. That’s absolutely entirely appropriate. There were a few that came with different intentions, and they have and they will be dealt with, but I’m not going to use your language, which I think is wrong, to say that it was mayhem.”
The Mayor said she felt “ambushed” by the line of questioning.
Incoming mayor Brandon Johnson responded in a much more professional manor than Lightfoot. When asked about the situation, he stressed that the situation was “unacceptable”, later saying, “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 visitors. This is one aspect of my comprehensive approach to improve public safety and make Chicago livable for everyone.”
