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Chicago City Officials Address Protest Plans For The Weekend

CHICAGO (CBS) --  After last weekend's protests stemming from the death of George Floyd, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city wants people to express their "righteous pain" but to do it peacefully.

She also had a message for the city's police officers who've been criticized for doing everything from assaulting protesters, to pulling people out of cars, to making obscene gestures to protesters.

For starters, around 300 trucks from streets and sanitation will "provide strategic traffic supports and more than 175 commercial corridors and communities across the city", particularly on the South Side and West Side.

"In the face of very difficult and trying circumstances, it's important that we not lose sight of why we're here, why so many people in Chicago and across the country are lifting up their voices to say enough is enough and rightfully so," Lightfoot. "I want to make sure we focus on that we support the righteous outrage that people feel and their ability to safely exercise their sacred First Amendment rights."

The mayor said that additional resources will be placed on the South and West Side. But the city's curfew will still be in effect.

Grant Park and Union Park will be open for people to protest. Road closures will be in place.

She said parks will be opening and more details will be announced soon. She added that church services will be able to take place, but at only 25% capacity.

She said another resource for business owners will be a city website where they can place information directly to receive resources.

Called the Chicago Business Alert System, the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) in partnership with the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) want  businesses to opt-in to receive targeted emergency alerts via CHIBIZ Emergency Alerts.

Lightfoot also had a warning to police officers after numerous reports of misconduct by members of CPD during last weekend's demonstrations.

"We will not tolerate excessive force. We will not tolerate profanity and homophobic comments. We will not tolerate that officers who choose to do those things, or to tape over their badges, or to turn off their body worn cameras," Lightfoot said. "You are demeaning all of your colleagues who are working their tails off on 12-hour shifts to keep our city safe. And we will take decisive action is not only stripping you as appropriate. You will be fired from the Chicago Police Department."

"We will hold you accountable for your misconduct," said Police Superintendent David Brown said. "I reject the notion that you can't support police which I support police officers, while still holding them accountable. I reject that notion that you have to make this binary choice, one or the other, you support cops by holding officers accountable."

Central Business District and Loop Area Boundaries (Non-essential vehicle traffic prohibited)
  • Division from Halsted to LSD
  • Halsted from Division to Milwaukee
  • Milwaukee from Division to Kinzie
  • Kinzie from Milwaukee to Canal
  • Canal from Kinzie to Cermak
  • Cermak from Canal to MLK JR. Drive

In addition to these routes, residents and motorists should be aware of the following traffic impacts:

Central Business District Bridge Closures

  • Michigan Avenue, Wabash Street, State Street, Franklin Street, Monroe Street, Adams Street, Jackson Street, Madison Ave, Randolph Street, Van Buren Street and Kinzie Street

Freeway Closures

  • Lake Shore Drive will be closed from Fullerton to 31st Street for vehicles
  • I-90/94 will be closed on all exit ramps from Fullerton to 18th Street.
  • I-290 will be closed at Ida B. Wells.
  • All traffic from I-55 will be diverted onto I-90/94.

Public Transportation

  • CTA train and bus service will be available, however, some train stops located within the Central Business District and Loop area will remain closed. Service be updated regularly throughout the day at www.transitchicago.com to ensure residents and employees have access to the latest transit information.
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