Chicago City Wire

Chicago city leaders say they are optimistic the anger and protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis can be calmed so the community can move forward, but they indicated it’s still too early to tell.

“We’re still only one day where we have some calming of the activities of looting and disorderly conduct,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown told the Chicago Tribune. “We are not letting our guard down. We’re cautiously optimistic but prepared for this to escalate in case it does.”

Brown expressed hope the city’s civil unrest is calming, but said the city remains on guard against both the COVID-19 disease and looting. National Guard troops are available if needed to help restore order.

Floyd died on May 25 after being detained by a Minneapolis police officer who placed his knee on Floyd’s neck. The incident set off a wave of violent protests, looting and vandalism across the country, including in Chicago. Chicago experienced its quietest night of protests on June 2, Brown said. Officials also recorded the lowest number of arrests since the weekend, with 274, he added.

The city also had the lowest number of looting calls and arrests. Brown said there were 46 disorderly conduct arrests, mostly for people throwing rocks or verbally assaulting city cops.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told the Tribune the city continues to encourage peaceful protest.

“We are continuing to preach a message of unity and honoring George Floyd and the victims of all police violence,” she said. "As I announced last night in my address to the city, we are setting up a new fund starting at $10 million to help support businesses that have been affected by recent events in neighborhoods. We’re continuing to push insurance companies to do the right thing by their customers and cut through red tape and start cutting checks in neighborhoods.”

Lightfoot said she wants to produce a series of long-stalled police reform measures within 90 days, teaching Chicago cops about the history of neighborhoods. The city will require crisis intervention and justice training programs for all officers and begin a new recruit program on police-community relations and community policing.

The proposed measures have drawn criticism from community activists for not going far enough, and who want more involvement in the reforms among citizen’s groups and not just City Hall.  

Addressing complaints alleging police misconduct in dealing with protesters, Brown said the department is ensuring those cases are examined and, if necessary, investigated and punsihed.

"We will not tolerate — zero tolerance — for our officers crossing the line and violating someone’s rights or using excessive force or violating our use of force policy,” he said.