Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, one of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s fiercest critics, took to social media to express his disappointment in city leadership’s handling of overnight violence.
Chaos involving gun violence and rampant looting erupted in Chicago Sunday night following a police-involved shooting that left a man injured. Hundreds gathered in the city overnight smashing windows, looting stores, and engaging in violent confrontations with law enforcement. At one point, gunfire was exchanged between police and civilians.
The city temporarily raised its bridges on Monday to prevent access to downtown as the scene clears from the night of destruction.
“This is a failure of leadership,” Lopez tweeted. “A failure of law enforcement & states attorney not on the same page. A failure to act on information. We have seen this before. The question now is how do we protect the other neighborhoods? How do you hold these criminals accountable?”
This is a failure of leadership. A failure of law enforcement & states attorney not on the same page. A failure to act on information.
We have seen this before. The question now is how do we protect the other neighborhoods. How do you hold these criminals accountable.
— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) August 10, 2020
Lopez continued by comparing the scene to the violent protests that erupted in Minneapolis after George Floyd died in police custody in May.
“Organized rioters & looters destroyed downtown Chicago and surrounding communities over night,” he said. “The bridges were raised and expressway exit ramps closed. The revolving attack on the neighborhoods began by 10am. That was two months ago. Will Lightfoot do anything different now?”
Organized rioters & looters destroyed downtown Chicago and surrounding communities over night.
The bridges were raised and expressway exit ramps closed.
The revolving attack on the neighborhoods began by 10am.
That was two months ago. Will Lightfoot do anything different now?
— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) August 10, 2020
Lopez has also criticized Lightfoot after the protests that left parts of Chicago severely damaged earlier this year. In leaked audio obtained by several news outlets between the two and other council members, the two entered into a profanity-laced exchange after Lopez accused the mayor of not having a plan to combat the unrest.
Lopez also retweeted tweets suggesting irony in Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx’s decision to drop charges against hundreds of protesters months ago, some of which included episodes of looting, as long as the items were less than a $1,000 value. When asked about Foxx’s decision in a press conference on Monday, Lightfoot snapped at a reporter, accusing him of trying to “bait” her and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown.
In another tweet, Lopez shared a warning post he saw on Sunday that alerted of a possible looting episode. He said he saw the post around 9:30 p.m., contacted police, and saw looting started around midnight. He accused Brown of not acting on the intelligence and said both he and Lightfoot “should be ashamed.”
Lightfoot & Brown should be ashamed of themselves. Talking tough & blaming Englewood. Blame the riots/looting on whomever coordinated the attack based on false information.
No solutions. No accepting of their failures from the past to deal with the present. pic.twitter.com/g8vJ6k6dNL
— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RLopez15thWard) August 10, 2020
Chicago is one of several U.S. cities that has recently experienced a surge in violent crime. The uptick has led to the federal government sending in law enforcement officers to help aid local police in quelling the unrest, a move that Lightfoot previously criticized.
