Chicago’s newly elected Mayor, Brandon Johnson, didn’t take kindly to a reporter’s use of the term “mob” to describe the rioters in the city. He insisted that the incidents were merely “large gatherings” and chastised the reporter for labeling them as “mob actions,” deeming it inappropriate.
When asked about the recent trend of “mob actions” in the city, Mayor Johnson quickly retorted, “That’s not what I said. We are talking about large gatherings, and it’s crucial that we choose our words carefully when discussing these situations.”
Late on Sunday, chaos erupted in Chicago’s South Loop as hundreds of rioters, mostly teenagers, took over the area, looting a local convenience store in the process. The Chicago Police Department responded by charging 40 people, 32 of them being teens, with misdemeanors related to their disruptive behavior, which included fights, property damage, attempted looting, and the discovery of several firearms at the scene.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Mayor Johnson appeared reluctant to acknowledge the incidents as anything more than “large gatherings,” citing the city’s history and the importance of using appropriate language when describing such events. He expressed concern about comparing the young rioters to infamous figures like “baby Al Capones.”
While the days of notorious gangsters like Al Capone are long gone, crime remains a pressing issue in Chicago. Year-to-date statistics indicate a 36% increase in total crime as of July 30, with motor vehicle theft showing an alarming surge of 116%. Other crime categories have also seen an uptick compared to the previous year, except for shootings and murders.
Chicago has witnessed its fair share of crowds devolving into riots and looting, with notable incidents occurring in August 2020 and following the May 2020 police-involved death of George Floyd. Mayor Johnson’s response to the recent events has drawn attention to the delicate balance between addressing crime and using language that reflects the complexity of the situation.