Downtown beating witness: 'They were going to kill that young man'

[sl8]

https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/downtown-beating-witness-it-was-crazy-then-police-didnt-help/

Downtown beating witness: ‘They were going to kill that young man’

by: Ben Bradley, Dana Rebik
Posted: Apr 18, 2023 / 02:52 PM CDT
Updated: Apr 19, 2023 / 08:00 AM CDT

CHICAGO — Lenora Dennis not only witnessed the attack of a couple on Wabash Avenue Saturday night, she stepped in to help.

[...]

“I literally stepped in front of a squad car and motioned them over to see this was an assault on the street in progress; and the police just drove around me,” she said.

[...]

Police reports reviewed by WGN Investigates say the couple, who was visiting from out of town, both suffered blows that left them bloodied and bruised. They were also robbed of their mobile phones, an Apple watch and even their shoes.

Dennis said she ushered the couple into the flagship Macy’s store where they hid until they could safely leave. Eventually, Dennis drove them to the 1st District police station where she said a desk sergeant told her words to the effect of: “This is happening because Brandon Johnson got elected.”

[...]

[nycbos]

1. I was downtown that night because I went to the theater.

Security held us inside for a bit after the show. When I got home, I realized why. I'm not from Chicago originally, but I love my adopted city dearly. It's the second greatest city in the world. But stuff like this is really scary.

The CPD has a history of misconduct. Police brutality settlements are definitely a strain on the city budget.

But unfortunately, as we know, perception sometimes matters more than reality. Scenes like like what happened on Saturday give the impression Chicago is a place in anarchy. Brandon Johnson said while he doesn't condone the incident "it is it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.” This gives the impression that the mayor-elect cares more about the people causing the havoc than the victims.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2023/4/17/23686938/alderman-blasts-chicago-police-leadership-for-response-to-violent-weekend

That statement I think it's pretty tone deaf. Most of people who come from disadvantages backgrounds manage to go through Saturday evening without going to a city downtown and wrecking havoc. And where were the parents?

[Freethinker65]

3. I'm in the suburbs.

Young kids need something to do in the evenings. Here in the burbs there are often house parties that get out of hand and any damage is typically limited to the property owner, but can easily spread out to the community. It isn't just an inner city problem.

Any time you get a massive crowd of unsupervised kids with no real plans other than meeting up, you risk mob mentality taking over (regardless of alcohol, drugs and/or guns). Curfews are going to need to be enforced, especially for unplanned gatherings as this will only get worse as the weather improves.

I think Johnson was trying to say not to demonize all youth because of the actions of one mob, just as one should not demonize all police. (And yes, many Chicago police are corrupt. Having served on a jury in Cook County, I witnessed first hand cop after cop unnecessarily lie to the jury.)

[nycbos]

5. I don't disagree

And I don't actually think Johnson was defending what happened. But unfortunately, we live in a world where people's perception of something matters more than the reality.

And when the mayor and waiting says I"t is it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities," might leave the impression that he cares more about the people committing violence then the people are affected by the violence.

Also, you have to ask where were those kids parents? Mr Johnson's kids I think are really young and not old enough to be left unsupervised. But hypothetically, if they were and participated in that chaos something tells me they would be in deep shit when they got home.

[Freethinker65]

6. Unfortunately, sometimes the parents are often MIA

The jury I sat on eventually convicted a teenager for a gun crime. After the verdict, the judge told us jurors the kid had been in jail since being arrested over two years prior and had no visitors, including family. I believe the bailiff purchased his court attire for him. No one came to support him during his trial. He was effectively raised on the streets of Chicago since he was a little kid by other older kids. It was a tragedy all around.

Certainly parental involvement would be ideal. I have no answers.

Johnson is going to be blamed for every bad and/or corrupt thing that happens in Chicago regardless of what he does by those that opposed him. If Vallas had won, the opposition would be blaming Vallas.

Chicago is a wonderful city and certainly not the only city (big or small) dealing with these issues.

[nycbos]

7. Indeed.

I agree. I moved here for work and I plan to stay in the near future. I can literally walk to Wrigley Field, the greatest ball park currently in existence and the second greatest ballpark of all time. Old Yankee stadium will always be number one for me.

For the record, I didn't exactly have warm feelings to either Johnson or Vallas during the runoff.

[Aviation Pro]

2. "This is happening because Brandon Johnson got elected."

No, it’s because you don’t do your fucking job, paycheck earner.

[live love laugh]

8. ✔️💯

[The Conductor]

4. Been There, Done That...

Back in April of 1983, I happened to be in Chicago at the Maxwell Street police station. The coppers there were going nuts, convinced that the city was going to be invaded by hoards from _somewhere_ because of the election of Harold Washington. Even 40 years ago, the CPD was as racist as it gets. They have not improved. In addition, their misconduct has cost the city over a billion dollars in compensation to victims of police stupidity. That's money stolen from everything else the city needs. Defund the police? Only fair, since the police have already defunded the city.