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Could Unrest In Baltimore Happen Here In Chicago?

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Could what we're seeing in Baltimore happen in Chicago? CBS 2's Jim Williams talked to two different groups of young African American men.

At 75th and Exchange, a beleaguered community with countless vacant storefronts, every young man CBS 2 talked to today described negative encounters with police.

"They will lock you up for no reason just cause you're walking to the store and they don't like how you look," said Delano Taylor.

Kevin Smiley says it's happened to him. He's 55.

"Sometimes you're walking down the street with candy in your pocket and the police will pull you over," he said.

Live Coverage From Our Sister Station In Baltimore

So when you ask if what happened in Baltimore could happen in Chicago, the answer is the same, yes.

And the answer is yes at Urban Prep Academies, where every single young man goes on to college.

"I can understand the people's frustration and why they're frustrated," said Eric Johnson.

Still, Travonte Ederenor, Christopher Harris, Eric Johnson and Tanner Beck said rioting is never justified.

Tim King is Urban Prep's CEO:

"Everything that happens to our students from day one at Urban Prep is all about preparing yourself to be a man... preparing yourself to come back and be a part of your community," King said.

But back at 75th and Exchange, Thaddeus Jenkins could see a riot right here.

"If it ain't a black-owned store, then f*** it," he said.

When Williams told that young man an innocent storeowner could lose his business in a riot he said, "it's about justice for us."

On the other hand, Tim King at Urban Prep urges his students to always be polite and respectful with police. Three of the four students we talked to said they had been stopped by police.

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