Authorities Restrict Access to Chicago's Loop, Central Business District After Protests, Looting
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Chicagoans woke up to damaged portions of the city with storefront windows broken on Michigan Avenue and State Street after peaceful daytime protests over the death of George Floyd dissolved into looting and destruction.
Chicago police are partnering with other city agencies to
drastically restrict access to the city’s Central Business District and the
Loop after extensive damage was caused by looters and vandals following
protests Saturday.
According to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, access to the
business district will be reduced for the time being, with only residents and essential
employees allowed to access the area.
“This will allow for the cleanup and repair and restoration of places of livelihood, the safety of residences, and the removal of hazards which were intentionally created last night,” the mayor said.
Signs held peaceful protesters sitting in the street , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters create makeshift barricades on Kinzie st in downtown Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters peacefully sit in front of a police barricade line , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The city of Chicago raised all the bridges in the city’s downtown loop, and effectively trapped protesters downtown , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters destroy a vehicle on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters at the George Floyd Protest in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters block traffic at the George Floyd Protests in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters block traffic at the George Floyd Protests in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters destroy police vehicles , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters clash with police in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters destroy police vehicles , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
A man rides a horse through the protests in Chicago , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters destroy store fronts and loot , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Protesters destroy police vehicles , on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
According to Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, city
salt trucks, garbage trucks and water trucks will be used to block all access
to the Central Business District. Street closures will also be in effect
throughout the area, with an area extending from Division Street on the north
end and 26th Street on the south end completely walled off to
non-residents or employees.
Canal Street will serve as the boundary on the west, with
Lake Shore Drive the boundary on the east, according to Brown.
All CTA trains and bus routes that go through the Loop have
been suspended, and Illinois State Police have shut down multiple exit ramps on
various highways, including from Interstate 290 onto Ida B. Wells Drive and the
Stevenson Expressway onto Lake Shore Drive.
National Guard troops have also been activated to help
protect the perimeter of the city.
A citywide curfew will remain in effect, and will run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to authorities.
