Hundreds of extra police officers are on their way to Chicago, Illinois, for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) as city officials beefed up security amid safety concerns.
An estimated 50,000 people are expected to attend the rally, along with “thousands of protesters,” according to ABC News. Reported Saturday.
“Our plan is to ensure the safety of everyone in the city, and we want this event to be a success,” Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling said of the event, which begins Monday.
The business has already begun Planking Breitbart News reported that the store will be closed due to expected violence next week.
Chicago businesses closed down ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) due to fears of widespread rioting. (Matthew Purdy/Breitbart News)
“You know, this city has a poor track record when it comes to protecting businesses,” said Scott Shapiro, owner of men’s clothing store Sid Jerome. said WLS-TV.
“We thought it would be prudent to board up the space as our clients and their employers had instructed them to stay home for the duration of the tournament for their own safety,” he added.
WATCH: Chicago businesses boarded up in preparation for Democratic National Convention riots
Recent events have confirmed management’s concerns.
Just days after the city was selected in April 2023 to host the 2024 games, large groups of teenagers took to the streets for several days, robbing, fighting and shooting people.
#breaking newsTeenager wrecks car, shoots break out and chaos erupts in downtown Chicago
#Chicago | #Illinois ⁰
There is currently a massive police response in downtown Chicago as a large group of young people are causing chaos. They are… pic.twitter.com/n7xhBpsTKs— RAWSALERTS (@rawsalerts) April 16, 2023
Youth violence continued A few nightsBreitbart News reported that the incident has caused lasting damage to the local community and its residents.
Then-Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson (Democrat) stress On why it was important not to “demonize” the young people who took part in the riots:
— Brandon Johnson (@Brandon4Chicago) April 16, 2023
This city is Black Lives Matter (BLM) rioters Looting, destruction and shootings occurred in Chicago businesses and neighborhoods.
Local BLM organizers Protected They call this act of looting “reparations.”
Similarly, on Christmas Eve 2023, pro-Palestinian protesters Targeted Houses Overcoming objections from local lawmakers, they closed both directions of Interstate 90, a major highway connecting Chicago with O’Hare International Airport.
Pro-Palestinian protesters in June Destroyed They dyed the water in Buckingham Fountain in the city red and spray painted messages such as “Gaza is bleeding.”
Large protests are expected around the Democratic National Convention, but Chicago is better prepared to handle them than it was in 2020, Snelling said.
The police chief said law enforcement leaders have been undergoing additional training for more than a year and that additional police resources will be deployed from across the state, adding that “we have cities to protect.”
“The Chicago Police Department will be out in every neighborhood protecting our communities and making sure we don’t drain our community resources,” he added.
