chicagotribune--2020-06-01--George Floyd fallout: New protests and unrest reported in city and suburbs; CTA suspends service; Na

George Floyd fallout: New protests and unrest reported in city and suburbs; CTA suspends service; National Guard called in; city reduces access into downtown

`` I think there 's no question about that , '' the mayor said at a Sunday morning news conference @ @ @ @ @ coordination .
They were clearly listening to ( police ) radio traffic .
They had @ @ @ @ @ up in front of stores .
Car caravans that dropped people off who broken into @ @ @ @ @ the goods out to the backs of cars .
Absolutely it was organized .
There @ @ @ @ @ that . ''

Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower hold back protesters in the Loop on May 30, 2020, during a rally and march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
After a riotous night Saturday in Chicago, unrest again unfolded in the city but also in the suburbs on Sunday.
Reports of looting, windows being smashed and other acts of violence were coming in from several areas of the Chicago area.
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The Illinois National Guard was called in to protect the downtown. Access into the Loop and nearby was being limited.
The day started with workers boarding windows that had been smashed the night before after what started out as a protest of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota turned ugly well after midnight even though the city had imposed a curfew of 9 p.m..
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he called up the guard following an early Sunday morning request from Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
“I want to be clear and emphasize: the Guard is here to support our Police Department,” Lightfoot said. “They will not be actively involved in policing and patrolling.”
Pritzker urged those who protested Saturday to self-quarantine and get tested for COVID-19.
Here are the latest developments:
CPS suspends grab-and-go meal sites
Chicago Public Schools will suspend grab-and-go meal sites and all other school and administrative office activities Monday, according to a news release, as the city continues to deal with fallout from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“This decision was made out of an abundance of caution and in recognition of the potential challenges families and staff could face trying to reach school buildings and offices tomorrow. Staff will telework, and remote learning will proceed as scheduled,” the release said.
Protesters break curfew
At North Avenue and Wells Street in Old Town, protesters gathered, some sitting in front of a Chicago police skirmish line. They chanted “I can’t breathe” and “black lives matter.”
A half hour after the 9 p.m. curfew went into effect, police issued a dispersal warning: “This gathering is in violation of the city’s curfew law. You must disperse immediately. ... This is your fourth and final warning.”
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— Paige Fry
Tear gas, police car on fire in Aurora
In Aurora, the state’s second-largest city, authorities deployed tear gas as several businesses along the main street were looted. People pulled up in front of a local jewelry store by the carload, crawling inside through a shattered window and later emerging with trays full of necklaces.
Earlier Sunday, Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman invited protesters to department headquarters and met with them outside to answers questions.
“Any officer who thinks that (what happened to George Floyd) is OK needs to turn in their badge," she said. “And I stand by that.”
Hours later, onlookers cheered as a police squad car went up in flames. Aurora imposed an 8:30 p.m. curfew, but people were still out, honking horns and lighting off fireworks.
Rosie Alvarez, owner of a mixed martial arts studio in downtown Aurora, said her business already was struggling to survive during the pandemic. After her window was smashed out, she said it’ll take even longer to reopen. She was not at the store when the window at Sumdong was smashed, but a customer called and told her.
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“I understand what they are going thru, but they are hurting local businesses already hurt by the pandemic,” Alvarez said. “This is devastating.” — Megan Jones
‘It is sad, sad, sad’
About 7:30 p.m., a group tried to break through the door of a food and liquor store at West 16th Street and South Homan Avenue, taking turns kicking and hitting the building with a hammer. The group paused when police arrived and then continued to try to gain entry to the building after they left.
A neighborhood resident who declined to give her name watched from the corner. She said the scene did not honor George Floyd.
“I just had to come outside to see what is really going on,” she said. “It is sad, sad, sad.”
“And it’s not just in the black neighborhoods,” she said, drawing attention to white protesters downtown yesterday. “I’m about to leave now.”
— Morgan Greene
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Beauty salons, shoe stores and grocery stores hit
On the Far South Side, outside a beauty salon at 95th Street and Stony Island, looters filled a U-Haul with weave and hair supplies. Men and women jumped in and out of a Jewel Osco’s front window as the store alarm rang through the parking lot, which was filled with haphazardly parked cars until their owners returned and hastily sped away.
Looters also worked their way into a Foot Locker nearby by lifting a rail barricade off the ground and limboing underneath it. As they succeeded in opening the store, a young man skipped across the parking lot to join them.
— Gregory Pratt and Jessica Villagomez
Commercial Avenue ransacked
Looters ransacked clothing and shoe stores on the once vibrant Commercial Avenue strip in South Chicago. Wooden hangers littered the sidewalk and empty boxes laid on the street. About half a dozen mismatched individual shoes were left behind in a planter.
As officers stood in the street, one of them told a woman passing by with her two children, “You better get those babies home.” The woman then asked them about a baby that had been left behind in a car while the mother looted, and one of the officers replied that the baby was OK.
— Gregory Pratt and Jessica Villagomez
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Crowds target Chatham stores
The Chatham shopping mall on 87th Street and the Dan Ryan was badly looted, with shopping carts strewn all over the Jewel and Home Depot parking lots. Dozens of officers searched the area and used carts to block entrances to the mall. Crowds of people also streamed into a nearby Family Dollar with one man emerging with laundry detergent, soda and toilet paper while another swaddled packets of Red Bull.
— Gregory Pratt and Jessica Villagomez
CTA suspends all routes until Monday morning
Starting at 6:30 p.m., CTA will suspend service on all bus routes and rail lines at the request of public safety officials, according to the CTA website. Service is expected to resume Monday morning. Commuters can find updates at transitchicago.com.
Pace is also suspending service starting at 6:30 p.m. and until further notice, according to a news release.
Person shot during looting of North Riverside Mall
Police said groups of people smashed windows and looted west suburban North Riverside Mall and nearby businesses, and during the chaos, one person was shot.
“Over the course of several hours North Riverside police in a coordinated effort with… surrounding police departments were able to disperse the looters and establish a perimeter around the mall preventing any further property damage and looting,” North Riverside police Chief Carlos Garcia said in a statement.
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“During the incident, a subject was shot by an unknown offender and taken to a local hospital.”
Garcia provided no further information about the victim, saying the shooting was under investigation.
— Todd Lighty
A free-for-all in West Garfield Park
In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, there was a surreal, calm feeling even as multiple storefronts had been looted Sunday afternoon on Madison Street.
The smell of smoke from a business that was burning east of Karlov Avenue and constant horn-honking from the backed up traffic added a level of frustration for motorists.
Chicago police wearing helmets with face shields were lined along Karlov blocking traffic along Madison. But the looting continued west of where they stood.
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Dozens of people crowded one corner store for several minutes, if not longer, until a strong cheer went up when they apparently breached the business.
Other people were pushing shopping carts and large plastic bins down Madison. A liquor store was a main focus with cars pulling up and double-parking. There was a strong stench of booze along the street.
While things had calmed down at 5 p.m., the situation earlier in the day was a little more tense, according to one witness.
All kinds of businesses were hit throughout the day, including a cellphone store and a Family Dollar store. Longtime community members, who said word had spread on social media drawing crowds, shook their heads at the scene of one of the main business arteries turned into a free-for-all.
On one corner, multiple rolls of Christmas paper were strewn, apparently abandoned. An open case of Miller High Life cans. Women carried mannequin heads, and one lay on the sidewalk, cast aside.
As the sun set, some in the neighborhood were worried about more serious troubles Sunday night. Some worried about how police would enforce the curfew, while others lamented the scene before them.
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A group of men gathered outside the Born Losers private club on Madison, just west of Kostner Avenue. One man lamented the looting and said the George Floyd video was no reason to destroy businesses.
“I can’t even go to the store now to (buy) liquor,” he said in a frustrated tone. “All (that) is not going to help with nothing.”
He acknowledged a billow of smoke popping up over Madison about four blocks west. “This is history,” he said.
Around that time, several Chicago Fire Department vehicles raced west on Madison. A few minutes after that, they were racing back east.
— Annie Sweeney and Jeremy Gorner
Protest at police headquarters
Shortly before 4 p.m. the sound of breaking glass filled the air at East 35th Street and West Prairie Avenue as the windows of Bronzeville Finer Foods were shattered.
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Just west, a few dozen protesters gathered in front of Chicago Police headquarters, where dozens more officers stood in front of the entrance. Some protesters held fists in the air, and all were silent, until they broke into a cheer of “Black Lives Matter.” One protester held a sign that said: “Being black is not a crime.”
Meanwhile, at Guaranteed Rate Field, a few dozen members of the Illinois National Guard set up a staging area in Lot A with Humvees.
— Morgan Greene
Sports store looted in Canaryville
At 47th and Halsted in Canaryville, people made a mad dash into City Sports Outlet and emerged carrying bundles of clothes. One man was nearly hit by a car pulling into the store’s parking lot while another filled the trunk to the brim.
And at 47th and Michigan in Bronzeville, looters broke into a Western Union by the gas station and carried out sacks.
— Gregory Pratt and Jessica Villagomez
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‘Horrible’ experience for shoe store owner in Little Village
An unusual scene played out in Little Village Sunday afternoon after looters smashed their way into Fresh Kicks shoe store and a T-Mobile.
The shoe store manager, Lack Chong, said that he opened at 11 a.m. for curbside pickup, and an hour later, 10 people tried to loot the store using hammers. Chong’s coworkers ran into the back room and he hid while the looting went on. About 10 minutes later, cops arrived, Chong said.
“It was horrible….They just try to crush everything,” he said of the looters. “It made me feel so nervous. I think we could find a more peaceful way. This just creates another bad situation.”
Hours later, police stood guard outside the storefront but groups of Latino men from the neighborhood stood on the corner of 26th and Homan watching out for outsiders. The men heckled cars driven by African American men, shouting “Keep going!” At one point, the men rushed a car and hit it with a baseball bat as the driver sped away.
At another point, the men threw bottles and bricks while some of the men shouted “Shoot it!” as the car zipped around a parked police vehicle and fled.
— Gregory Pratt and Jessica Villagomez
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Curfew in Calumet City after looters smash windows
The mayor of Calumet City in southeast Cook County shut down the city Sunday and imposed a strict curfew after scores of looters smashed businesses’ windows and ransacked River Oaks Mall.
Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush told the Tribune that looting started out with a handful of people and quickly grew to number perhaps as many as 200 to 300.
Markiewicz Qualkinbush ordered a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice, adding she was closing highway exit ramps that lead into the city.
“Obviously, Calumet City is in a state of emergency,” she said. “We are shutting down the city to get a handle on this.”
The mayor said her curfew restricts vehicular and pedestrian movement unless it involves emergency personnel, law enforcement or essential workers who are commuting.
Markiewicz Qualkinbush said that “organized bands within the protest groups” drove to Calumet City and neighboring towns to commit crimes.
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“Today, Calumet City has experienced the boil over of years of unjust application of the law that has victimized African American communities across our nation,” the mayor said in a statement. “Amid peaceful demonstration spotlighting horrible injustice that led to the senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, frustration has taken a violent destructive tone.”
— Todd Lighty
Protest-related cases in Cook County bond court include alleged battery to cop
A Cook County judge presiding over Sunday’s felony hearing call at the Leighton Criminal Court Building saw 12 protest-related suspects, with charges ranging from looting to aggravated battery to a police officer.
In one instance, a Portage Park man was accused of intentionally ramming a bicycle into a police sergeant and resisting arrest, injuring the officer's leg and thumb.
In another, a Texas woman in town for the protests, allegedly punched a police officer in the eye after throwing a glass bottle at two officers. That same officer then used their body to shield the young woman from a surging crowd in downtown, according to prosecutors. She later apologized to officers, authorities said.
Several people were arrested inside Macy’s flagship store on State Street, after looters broke into the closed store Saturday night.
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— William Lee
Lightfoot: Previous peaceful protests like comparing ‘apples and oranges’
Chicago has seen numerous protests over the last decade, from the demonstrations at the 2012 G8 summit to weeks of marches following the 2015 release of video that showed Laquan McDonald’s shooting death at the hands of police.
None, however, resulted in the kind of widespread looting and vandalism that followed Saturday night’s protest against the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
On Sunday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said such previous Chicago protests were “apples and oranges.”
“We moved from peaceful protests to an element that was in the crowd that was clearly there for a fight. You don’t bring a clawhammer or shovel or bottles or urine or accelerants, Molotov cocktails, unless you’re up to something other than peaceful protests,” she said.
“Dealing with that element certainly became a challenge. And then, on the heels of tamping that down, we saw literally people coming by the carloads and with U-Haul vans to loot and destroy and damage our businesses.”
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Lightfoot was asked if the city was prepared for Saturday night. “The planning for yesterday started days before,” she said. “We had cancelled days off, used overtime. There were a number of police out on the scene over the course of yesterday. We’ve now also shifted to 12-hour days, three watches.”
Lightfoot said the city is working with federal agencies to determine who the outside elements were who drove the violence, but declined to provide details.
The mayor’s comments came during a news conference to discuss the deployment of 375 Illinois National Guard members to Chicago. The Illinois National Guard will help Chicago police manage street closures part of the city’s downtown shutdown.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he called up the guard following an early Sunday morning request from Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
“I want to be clear and emphasize: the Guard is here to support our Police Department,” Lightfoot said. “They will not be actively involved in policing and patrolling.”
Pritzker urged those who protested Saturday to self-quarantine and get tested for COVID-19.
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“The virus is still out there. And we cannot forget that.”
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx decried “the casualness” of decades of disparities and violence faced by the African American community, including what she described as the casual way a police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck.
“I am angry. What is not acceptable is what I saw last night,” she said. “That there will be those who will try to exploit the anger and the mourning…of what has been happening in this country.”
“We will hold accountable those who are seeking to exploit this moment,” said Foxx, who added that people shouldn’t conflate protesters and looters.
Illinois National Guard back 50 years after 1968
Nearly 400 Illinois National Guard members will enforce street closures throughout the city following two days of unrest, but the troops have been ordered not to police the protests, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday.
Pritzker activated a military police unit shortly after midnight at the urging of Mayor Lori Lightfoot in what is believed to be the first time since 1968 that a Chicago mayor had requested the guard's help in dealing with local unrest.
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About 125 guard members already have reported for duty and another 250 are expected shortly. The soldiers and airmen have been given explicit orders not to interfere with protestors who are exercising their First Amendment rights, the governor said.
"Their job is to provide a perimeter," Pritzker said. "They're not going to be on the front lines. There has been a lot of discussion about that and what their role will be. They're purely there to provide a perimeter so the center of the city doesn't get overtaken in the way it seemed to at certain times last night."
Each soldier has been given strict guidelines in regards to use of force, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, the Illinois adjutant general. Officials, however, declined to discuss those rules of engagement.
Lightfoot downplayed suggestions that the guard's presence could escalate tensions throughout the city, saying the guard members understood their limited role.
"They are every bit as well trained as our officers are. They are trained to come into these circumstances," Lightfoot said. "I have every confidence they will show exactly the same restraint that our officers do. We're not going to let them get into a difficult circumstance that they cannot handle."
As the violence and looting escalated Saturday night, Lightfoot said Police Superintendent David Brown asked for the national guard's assistance. She made the request to Pritzker around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
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The mobilized 33rd Military Police Battalion unit - which is based in Machesney Park and has companies in Springfield, Freeport and Ft. Sheridan - has specialized training in crowd control. Though many in the unit are police officers in their civilian lives, the activated troops also include firefighters, teachers and factory workers.
“We are here to carry out to a limited mission at the request of Mayor Lightfoot and the governor, to help manage street closures so that those protesters will not interfere with those who want to exercise their First Amendment right,” Neely said. — Stacy St. Clair
New protests, unrest reported in city, suburbs on Sunday
On Sunday, there were several reports of protest and unrest in the city and suburbs.
At 3:30 a contingent of about two dozen officers were lining up in formation at intersection of Chicago Avenue and Kedzie, where a strip appeared to have been looted. Officers carried bully clubs and wore face shields. They were directing traffic, which was backed up in Chgo Ave.
Glass at the Foot Locker was spider-webbed. People were stuffing items into trunks of cars and carrying items down the street. Some ran.
There was a mannequin and broken glass on the street.
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The mall is across from a children’s play lot. A little boy was being pushed on a swing by a woman amid all of this.
There was one protest near Madison Street and Pulaski Road, and at 35th and King in Chicago, police said.
And far from Chicago, malls and other businesses in the southwest suburbs voluntarily closed.
The Orland Square Mall in Orland Park and Brookside Marketplace in neighboring Tinley Park closed early, although they had been on shortened hours because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said law enforcement “has received lots of intelligence” about possible civil unrest but that nothing has occurred his village. He said that by mid-Sunday afternoon, police had made no arrests.
“People are being extra vigilant and we’re getting a lot of calls,” he said. “We are chasing our tails a lot.”
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Pat Carr, assistant village administrator for Tinley Park who oversees police and fire activity in the village, said there have been pockets of reports of unrest and that people have fled when police responded.
Carr said he did not know the number of protesters but said that people in 10 to 12 cars had caused a disturbance at Brookside Marketplace at 191st Street and Harlem Avenue before driving off.
“We have asked residents to stay inside,” he said. “This is all as a precaution to keep our residents prepared and safe.”
Mokena, with borders both Tinley and Orland Park, sent out an alert to its residents: “There are reports of large groups or protesters in the area around Lincoln-Way area. As such, we will be closing many stores this afternoon. Please stay close to home, stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”
-- Annie Sweeney, Todd Lighty
National Guard to have ‘limited presence’
At a news conference late Sunday morning, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that the Illinois National Guard would have a “limited presence” tonight.
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The Guard’s presence would be on the “outer perimeter”of the downtown area, said Police Supt. David Brown.
The National Guard is being ordered to Chicago amid “absolutely devastating” looting and destruction downtown, Lightfoot said.
Brown said that police days off have been canceled.
“This chaos and destruction is not the right tactic to bring change,” Lightfoot said.
Officials said there were 240 arrests and 6 shootings, with one death.
In a statement, Governor J.B. Pritzker said he would activated 375 Illinois National Guard soldiers. The Guard will carry out a limited mission to help manage street closures and will not interfere with peaceful protestors, he said.
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“At the request of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, I am activating the Illinois National Guard to support the City of Chicago in protecting our communities and keeping people safe,” said Pritzker. “This is an immensely challenging moment for our city, our state, and our country, one born from decades and centuries of systemic racism. To those peacefully expressing the pain, fear, and rage of this moment, I hear you. Your voices matter. We must address the profound injustices in our society and bring about real and meaningful change.”
Though Lightfoot said she was “sickened by the murder of George Floyd,” she strongly condemned the actions of some protesters who have burned storefronts on Michigan Avenue and smashed windows.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Lightfoot said.
“This chaos and destruction is not the right tactic to bring change.”
“It not only breaks my heart but leaves me angry and frustrated”
She also thanked the police: “I watched for hours yesterday as you showed incredible restraint”
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And she warned people to stay safe: “Please wear face covers and maintain safe social distancing while you are marching”
She also called for moment of silence at 5 p.m.
-- Greg Pratt
Outside groups involved in in Saturday’s events, Lightfoot says
When asked if “anarchists” had a role in Saturday’s protests and looting, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said there were little doubt that outside groups were involved in the protests and looting.
"I think there's no question about that," the mayor said at a Sunday morning news conference. "There clearly was coordination. They were clearly listening to (police) radio traffic. They had Uhaul trucks that magically showed up in front of stores. Car caravans that dropped people off who broken into windows and then were hustling the goods out to the backs of cars. Absolutely it was organized. There's no question whatsoever about that."
An investigation into the particular groups was underway, the mayor said.
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The mayor also shot down claims that closing off traffic and public transit to downtown, instituting the curfew and raising the bridges trapped people.
“Totally, utterly false. And the proof is in the pudding. People were roving all over the downtown area, by foot, by car and by other means. No one was trapped. The LaSalle Street bridge was open the entire time.
“And again, look at what happened. If they were trapped, we would have seen an isolated area of problems. We didn’t see that. There was tremendous mobility, to our detriment.”
Later in the day, Chicago police spokesman Howard Ludwig said he had no information “at this point” that any alleged outside agitators played a role in upsetting what had started earlier Saturday as peaceful anti-police protests.
--William Lee, Todd Lighty
City limits access to Loop, CTA service in and out of Loop suspended
The city of Chicago Sunday morning announced that “multiple routes to the Central Business District will be temporarily reduced today following multiple public safety incidents and property damage that occurred overnight.”
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In a news release the city said it was taking the action “to further ensure the health and safety of residents and the hundreds of peaceful protestors participating in rallies” today.
According to the release, starting today, “the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), Department of Water Management (DWM) and Chicago Police Department (CPD) will reduce access in the Central Business District and Loop area to only employees whose businesses are located within the designated boundaries, individuals who reside in the surrounding area and residents engaged in essential activities as defined in the Municipal Code.”
The boundaries include:
Division Street from Lake Shore Drive and North Halsted Street.
North Halsted from Division Street. to Milwaukee Avenue and Grand Avenue.
Milwaukee Avenue from Grand Avenue to Kinzie Street.
Canal Street from Kinzie Street to 26th Street.
26th Street from Canal Street to Lake Shore Drive.
The release continues:
"Additionally, CTA service has also been suspended for trains and buses coming in and out of the Loop for public safety reasons. CTA will provide regular service updates at: transitchicago.com.
"Following today’s announcement, the City is working closely with the organizers of rallies and protests scheduled to take place within the area this afternoon to provide an alternative, optional route for marches to peacefully and safely return in Chicago. This latest effort follow’s Mayor Lightfoot and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Arwady’s joint-issued citywide curfew for all residents and visitors, effective from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily beginning Saturday, May 30, until further notice.
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“Mayor Lightfoot, Dr. Arwady and Chicago Police Superintendent David O. Brown continue to reiterate that their number one priority is the safety and health of all residents, including protestors and police officers. In addition to these latest preparedness efforts, Mayor Lightfoot will join CPD and OEMC today to provide an update on the City’s preparedness efforts to ensure peaceful organized protests, rallies and marches.”
Illinois State Police announce downtown expressway ramp closures
Illinois State Police officials have announced the following expressway ramp closures, which will be in effect until further notice:
Interstate 290 eastbound to Congress
Interstate 94 northbound ramp to Congress
Interstate 90 northbound ramp to Ohio
Interstate 90 southbound to Ohio
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At least 20 Chicago officers were injured Saturday night
At least 20 officers were treated at hospitals Saturday, injured during violent street protests and looting, said Chicago police spokesman Howard Ludwig.
“There were a couple officers with broken bones, more with stitches,” he said. “And even more with bumps and bruises.”
-- Todd Lighty
Chicago theaters sustain minor damages
Both the Goodman Theatre and Broadway in Chicago said Sunday morning that their venues had received minor damage during the Saturday night disturbances in downtown Chicago.
A Goodman spokesman said that the damage to the theater at 170 N. Dearborn St. included the spray painting of a door, two smashed glass entry doors and a cracked window.
In a statement on social media released Sunday that did not reference the damage, the theater said that “the Black Lives Matter movement has never been more essential” and that the theater remained steadfast in its “commitment to producing works of arts that help to connect, challenge and restore.”
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Broadway in Chicago said that most of its Loop venues had not sustained any damage but that the CIBC Theater at 23 W. Monroe St., where “Hamilton” recently closed, had its glass front doors shattered by protesters and its exterior plaques tagged.
It appeared Sunday morning that none of the historic theaters in the Loop saw their interiors breached or suffered irreparable damage, even though the Chicago Theatre was the backdrop to much of the Saturday night protest activity on State St. Chicago theaters have been closed to performances since the pandemic stay at home orders were issued earlier this year.
-- Chris Jones
Protesters gather early in the morning near Lightfoot’s home
A group of about 35 protesters gathered near the home of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot early Sunday, playing musical instruments and shouting, “Wake up, Lori, wake up.”
The street was blocked off, forcing the protesters to assemble at the end of the block.
--Brian Cassella
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Volunteer tries to help with cleanup
As the city streets remained largely quiet and desolate Sunday morning, Sarah Walczewski from the South Loop made her way downtown by 7 a.m.
Walczewski was at home during Saturday night’s protests but wanted to do her part to help the city heal by cleaning debris, she said.
Walczewski was among several volunteers who cleaned scenes of cluttered debris and shattered glass left behind from looted businesses. Several stores along State Street were broken into with items like makeup displays scattered along the street and roads covered in pockets of broken glass.
Droplets of blood and piles of trash sat outside corners of the street.
Residents walked by the businesses with many stopping to take photos and videos of the damage.
Holding a stack of white trash bags, a broom and dustpan, Walczewski kept cleaning. She gathered piles of glass left behind from a broken window at Potbelly’s on State and Lake street.
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“I just want to help,” she said. “The whole situation is tragic and I’m very much aligned with the cause of the protestors. I love Chicago.”
--Jessica Villagomez
Businesses look for plywood
Neemias Ortiz, an employee at The Berghoff, worked to board up the restaurant early Sunday morning. The only damage the restaurant had sustained Saturday was a broken window, he said.
He added that neighboring businesses were struggling with finding companies to aid in boarding and many were taking it upon themselves to do the work.
“I went to Home Depot to get plywood, there were so many people there all getting material to board,” he said. “Things happen, we have nothing to do but to protect what we can,” he said.
John Cusack tweets video of Chicago protests and police coming ‘at me with batons’
While attending protests in downtown Chicago on Saturday, actor John Cusack said on Twitter that police “came at me with batons” and were hitting his bike as he attempted to film a burning car.
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Protests took place nationwide over the weekend, sparked by the deaths of black people at the hands of police, including George Floyd in Minneapolis last week, Louisville and Kentucky EMT Breonna Taylor in March, as well as jogger Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed in February by a former police officer in Georgia.
In a video posted by Cusack, an Evanston native who lives in Chicago, the nighttime footage is blurry but shouts (presumably from law enforcement) are heard in rapid succession: “Get out of here! Move! Get out of here! Get the f--- out of here now! Get out of here, let’s go!”
Amidst those shouts Cusack can be heard responding, “Alright, alright, alright, I’m going.”
Read more here.
–Nina Metz’
‘Everything is gone,’ says Loop jeweler
Rick Samaniego, a manager of family-owned jewelry store Wedding Bands and Co. by Koorash on Wabash Avenue, cleaned through the rummage on the shop Sunday morning.
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“We haven’t been working since the shelter in place order,” he said. “No income at all, and now this. Everything is gone.”
Samaneigo said he got notice of a break-in from an alarm at 9 p.m. Saturday night.
He and his brother-in-law, who owns the shop, thought of coming downtown before ultimately deciding against making the trip in.
“We both tried coming but we realized what are we going to do? Fight them off?,” he said.
He got to the store by early Sunday morning to find glass shattered and materials gone.
Volunteers helped him sweep up some of the debris.
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“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “I know it’s not much but it’s a hand. Imagine working your whole life to build something then it gets taken away.”
Check back for more updates.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Central Camera, iconic Loop business for 121 years, vows to rebuild as building burns during unrest

Central Camera, iconic Loop business for 121 years, vows to rebuild as building burns during unrest over George Floyd death

Flesch told CBS that he got a notification from the security system around 9 p.m. Saturday .
He arrived before @ @ @ @ @ a gate broken and people coming out of the shop with baskets filled with inventory @ @ @ @ @ saw two or three guys walk in , come out and a moment later there @ @ @ @ @

Owner Don Flesch, whose grandfather started the iconic Central Camera in 1899, walks through the damage on May 31, 2020, the morning after the store burned when protests led to widespread destruction in the Loop. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
The Loop’s iconic Central Camera went up in flames during Saturday night’s unrest, but the third-generation owner is vowing to rebuild “and make it just as good or better.”
The camera shop, founded in 1899 and at its current location at 230 S. Wabash Ave. since 1929, was among numerous downtown businesses that sustained major damage as violence erupted amid unrest in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Windows were smashed, goods stolen and buildings set ablaze.
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Owner Don Flesch, whose grandfather started Central Camera, expressed no anger at the demonstrators even as he watched his shop’s neon sign shrouded in smoke.
“It’s what’s going on, it’s reality, so you deal with it. It’s that simple,” Flesch, 72, said during an interview with CBS 2 Saturday night.
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The Central Camera store on May 31, 2020, the morning after it burned when protests led to widespread destruction downtown. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
He added, “I’m angered about what started it, which was what, Minnesota, that poor guy, getting hurt, and dying, and everybody around the country literally deciding how do we show our anger and how do we protest."
Flesch could not be reached Sunday. Central Camera started a GoFundMe Page where people can donate money to help it rebuild, with a $250,000 goal.
The company is “still surveying the area to see if we can recover any assets, but at this time it looks like 100% destruction,” the fundraising page said.
“Although this is a tough time for the store, it doesn’t compare to the loss of George Floyd’s life and the countless other Black lives lost,” the page says. “We stand with the African American community in solidarity.”
Flesch told CBS that he got a notification from the security system around 9 p.m. Saturday. He arrived before the fire began and found a gate broken and people coming out of the shop with baskets filled with inventory. At one point he saw two or three guys walk in, come out and a moment later there started to be smoke.
Damaged merchandise inside the iconic Central Camera on May 31, 2020, the morning after the store burned when protests led to widespread destruction in the Loop. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
“I wanted to go in, but the looters, there were so many people walking by and I was a little bit shy and fearful and all I had was an umbrella that was closed, and I didn’t think I could knock out everybody. No Rambo here," he said.
Flesch’s equanimity amid the destruction of his family’s business has earned him fans on social media, with some on Twitter applauding him for “understanding what is important.”
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“We’re going to rebuild it and make it just as good or better,” Flesch said during the CBS 2 interview. “I’m not depressed at all. We lost inventory, no lives were lost. Hopefully, the nice firemen, no one gets injured.”
Flesch said he was able to save an antique Kodak camera from store’s display window that is believed to be the first camera the store sold.
Flesch started the live interview by noting that he had run out of film and his phone had died so he was unable to photograph the scene. Asked for his parting thoughts, he said: “I hope everybody is safe. Everybody should learn a lesson. What is the lesson? Be prepared. Have more film in your pocket.”


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Column: White America, if you want to know who’s responsible for racism, look in the mirror

Too many white people are satisfied doing nothing to bring about substantive change .
Admit it .
You enjoy the @ @ @ @ @ supremacy affords you .
Yet you want to distance yourself from the racist individuals and @ @ @ @ @ the top of the hierarchy .

A woman stands atop a car near Daley Plaza on May 30, 2020, in Chicago to protest the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
White people don’t like watching hardcore racism. Even some law-and-order conservatives are uncomfortable seeing a white cop hold his knee on a black man’s neck and squeeze the life out of him.
But somehow, white people always find a way to get over it. You post your angst on social media to show which side you’re on. And while the stories make their way through the news cycle, you and your friends lament how awful racism is.
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Then before you know it, your drive-by rage is over.
You conclude that the terrible incident doesn’t affect you directly. So you drift back into oblivion, convinced there’s nothing you can do about racist cops or the racist society that breeds them.
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But you are wrong. White people, you are the problem.
Regardless of how much you say you detest racism, you are the sole reason it has flourished for centuries. And you are the only ones who can stop it.
White people who fought alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. knew this. The young white women who formed a barrier between black activists and the police during a protest in Louisville last week understood it too.
Racism is no different from any other chronic problem. It recurs as long as it goes unchecked. Black people, for the most part, are powerless to stop racism. If we could, we would have done it a long time ago.
American racism is a uniquely white trait. Black people cannot be racist toward you. Racism, by definition, is “prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”
Black people cannot exude a sense of superiority that we have never experienced.
America cannot rid itself of this curse unless white people accept responsibility for it. And, frankly, most of you aren’t willing to take that leap.
There is no need to rehash the sordid history of America in order to understand how racism took root here. You already know that the legacy of slavery feeds into the systemic racism that deems African Americans second-class citizens, unworthy of the same rights as white people. Only staunch racists deny that fact.
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We’re not talking about those people right now. We’re talking about those of you who see yourselves as intolerant of racism — those who were sickened by that video of George Floyd pleading for mercy.
Too many white people are satisfied doing nothing to bring about substantive change. Admit it. You enjoy the opportunities and privileges that white supremacy affords you. Yet you want to distance yourself from the racist individuals and systems that keep you at the top of the hierarchy.
You are well aware of the racial injustices that occur every day. Certainly, you were not surprised that a black man like Floyd could meet his death just weeks after Ahmaud Arbery died at the hands of a father and son who apparently decided it was their duty to put a black man in his place.
If someone were to ask why you did nothing for Breonna Taylor, Laquan McDonald, Eric Garner, Rekia Boyd, Botham Jean, Walter Scott or Atatiana Jefferson, you might say it is because you did not know what to do.
Now, you’re probably looking to a black person to tell you how to fix it. I’m not going to lie. I don’t have all the answers.
You should talk among yourselves and figure it out. In the midst of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, you managed to put a man on the moon. You could make the same commitment to stomping out racism.
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It would be wonderful if white people took to the streets like you did during the 2017 Women’s March, only this time holding signs and chanting, “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going tolerate racism anymore.”
You would never do that. But the transformation can start within you.
First, just listen. When black people talk about racism, don’t automatically accuse them of “playing the race card.” That’s merely an attempt to stifle meaningful discussions about race and maintain the status quo.
Admit that you are uncomfortable around black people. Stop pretending that you don’t have any black friends because you don’t come into contact with them. The truth is that you have never made expanding your circle a priority. By the way, that one black friend you met through work doesn’t count.
Take an honest assessment of your attitudes. Admit that you would be less likely to believe Floyd did nothing wrong without the video to prove it. Acknowledge that your initial inclination is to trust that the police always tell the truth.
Ask why doubt creeps into your head when you find out that the victim didn’t live a perfect life. Think about how easily you buy into the notion that the officer must have feared for his life rather than accept that some cops flat-out hate black people.
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Question why you allowed the Amy Cooper story to distract you from the issue of police brutality. Her lie about a black man attacking her in Central Park was repulsive and she deserved to be rebuked, but it was only a blip in the larger arena of racism.
Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
White women have been telling lies on black men since they were first brought to America in chains in 1619, and white women have been complicit. The most famous liar was Carolyn Bryant, who claimed Emmett Till whistled at her.
One of the main reasons racism thrives is because white people too often miss the most important point. The biggest issue isn’t that a white woman lied. It’s the racist system that allowed Bryant’s husband and his friends to drag Till out of bed, beat him to death and toss his body in the river — without repercussions.
That racist system still exists. That’s why Derek Chauvin refused to take his knee off Floyd’s neck even though he knew he was being filmed. Racists, especially those in uniform, know that the system almost always is on their side. And 400 years of history proves that most white people aren’t in a hurry to reverse it.
Racists are counting on you to continue doing nothing. They are certain that before long, you will return to your blissful state of denial, where racism is somebody else’s problem. And you will not disappoint them.
Racists know some of you better than you know yourselves.
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dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--How the weekend unfolded: Timeline of Chicago protests, looting and unrest

Mayor Lightfoot on looters from the previous night : `` What you have done is to dishonor yourself , your @ @ @ @ @ ...
I know you can do better than what I saw last night and I @ @ @ @ @ find it in your heart to find something better for yourselves and your lives .
@

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 89 Police officers guarding the Trump International Hotel & Tower hold back protesters in the Loop on May 30, 2020, during a rally and march to remember the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Tense protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 turned into a weekend of violent unrest downtown in the Loop and along Michigan Avenue.
Saturday night saw damage and looting at numerous stores along the Magnificent Mile. Police and city vehicles were damaged and burned. Mayor Lori Lightfoot imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in response.
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Here is how some of the events unfolded.
5:46 p.m., Friday
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Michigan Avenue: Protesters march down the south lanes.
I've covered a lot of protests, but this is a first. Protesters are marching AGAINST traffic heading south on Michigan Avenue. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/NxAssTtc4L — Javonte Anderson (@JavonteA) May 29, 2020
6:17 p.m., Friday
Congress Parkway: People march toward the Eisenhower Expressway.
Things have intensified. The crowd has marched on the highway. Chicago Police has created a barricade to prevent the group from marching further. pic.twitter.com/Gn6eA96u3s — Javonte Anderson (@JavonteA) May 29, 2020
Overnight, Friday and Saturday
"Windows broken in the loop including jewelry stores, a Champs Sports store and Target on State Street."
7:25 a.m., Saturday
Windy City Diamonds: Windows broken overnight Friday
Workers overnight clean up broken glass outside a Loop jewelry store after an overnight demonstration intensified. Marchers were protesting the death of #GeorgeFloyd. pic.twitter.com/LTMqM7Y0z4 — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 30, 2020
9:45 a.m., Saturday
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"Washington Park: Mayor Lori Lightfoot helps distribute supplies to seniors with My Block, My Hood, My City."
HELPING OUR SENIORS: Mayor Lightfoot joins CPD Superintendent Brown at My Block, My Hood, My City's event to distribute Safety Kits to senior residents #COVID19 https://t.co/dKdKlc3PAO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 30, 2020
1:38 p.m., Saturday
Federal Plaza: Crowd gathers.
A crowd has started gathering at Federal Plaza ahead of 2 pm protest. Cars will protest signs lining Dearborn and honking horns. pic.twitter.com/Mjf9vP0XzW — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
2:19 p.m., Saturday
Dearborn Street: People march.
Chants of “I can’t breathe” and “Black Lives Matter” as the crowd gets on the move in Dearborn, weaving through the cars that are idling. pic.twitter.com/7bNIyGzRoV — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
2:24 p.m., Saturday
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Federal Plaza: Protest of people and cars.
Federal Plaza, Chicago
I really hope this ends okay. pic.twitter.com/3dPpeYOS3m — john j. kim (@jkimpictures) May 30, 2020
3:06 p.m., Saturday
Dearborn and Washington streets: Fire set to an American flag.
A guy just set a flag on fire. It burned out quickly. pic.twitter.com/S1RrIjrBZB — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
3:15 p.m., Saturday
Dearborn and Madison streets: Person stands atop a CTA No. 151 bus.
Bus is a 151 that looks like it is occupied by the driver but otherwise appears without passengers. pic.twitter.com/yVaww1vprq — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 30, 2020
3:46 p.m., Saturday
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Lake Shore and Balbo drives: Shut down in both directions.
NotifyChicago: Lake Shore Dr at Balbo is shut down in both directions due to protest activity. Seek alternate route. Tune to local media for more information. — Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) May 30, 2020
4:35 p.m., Saturday
Trump Tower: Crowds gather.
Protesters pushed further from Trump hotel entrance.
Chicago pic.twitter.com/X1OIByiLG4 — john j. kim (@jkimpictures) May 30, 2020
5:16 p.m., Saturday
Trump Tower: Police push protesters back.
Police tactics, protest tactics
Trump Hotel, Chicago pic.twitter.com/fuevQnAOGd — john j. kim (@jkimpictures) May 30, 2020
5:17 p.m., Saturday
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Lake Shore Drive near Division Street: Protesters block Lake Shore Drive.
Protesters have taken over outer Lake Shore Drive. Traffic going south is at a standstill at Division Street. pic.twitter.com/l8gGFNeVGB — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 30, 2020
5:28 p.m., Saturday
Lake Shore Drive and Division: Crowds gather.
Protesters now are standing at outer Lake Shore Drive facing south at Division. Five marked CPD police vehicles are a little further down in the southbound lanes on standby. pic.twitter.com/kU4gG1SmuC — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 30, 2020
6:27 p.m., Saturday
Wabash Avenue Bridge: Chicago police superintendent David Brown walks with officers.
Happening now: Superintendent David Brown is out with his officers at the downtown protest. #CPDMediaCar pic.twitter.com/fMv9aHej02 — Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) May 30, 2020
7:01 p.m., Saturday
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Kinzie and Rush streets: Police vehicle on fire.
Chicago police vehicle was on fire here — Kinzie and Rush streets. Firefighters came and put it out. pic.twitter.com/4VxjVu49wc — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
7:29 p.m., Saturday
Hubbard and State streets: People throw things at officers.
Protesters just threw bottles and rocks at the police at Hubbard and State. pic.twitter.com/CSSKFfVf7X — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
7:40 p.m., Saturday
Hubbard and Dearbon streets: Police car turned over.
Squad car just got tipped over at Hubbard and Dearborn. pic.twitter.com/738bIgqYPF — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
7:42 p.m., Saturday
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Ohio and Rush streets: Police car burned.
7:54 p.m., Saturday
Hubbard and Dearborn streets: Protester on horseback.
Now there’s a guy on horseback at Dearborn and Hubbard. pic.twitter.com/IHy9BfXrQJ — Jeremy Gorner (@JeremyGorner) May 31, 2020
7:57 p.m., Saturday
Nieman Marcus department store on Michigan Avenue: Apparent looting.
People been going in and out for at least 15 mins, some people standing around told me. pic.twitter.com/hRUp8XG3Ix — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
8:04 p.m., Saturday
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Nike store on Michigan Avenu: Apparent looting.
One guy jumped off this Divvy bike and ran inside. He just came out with a ton of clothes in hand. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/HHoYUE5IyU — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
8:09 p.m., Saturday
Rolex store on Michigan Avenue: Broken windows.
People broke into the Rolex store now. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/T2jzByZ7LJ — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
8:16 p.m., Saturday
"Chicago Office of Emergency Management headquarters: Mayor Lightfoot says the day's demonstration had ""evolved into criminal conduct"" as she imposed a curfew on the city from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. until further notice."
UPDATE: Mayor Lightfoot joins CPD and OEMC to provide an update on today’s protests. https://t.co/YUXerlDUZZ — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 31, 2020
8:39 p.m., Saturday
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Wacker Drive at State Street: Protesters chant, ”No justice, no peace.”
8:40 p.m., Saturday
Timberland store on Michigan Avenue: Apparent looting.
The Timberland store has also been stripped clean for the most part, except for this lone mannequin outside. One guy ran in there right after I took a picture and ran out with a big box. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/AeZN6iN12P — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
8:42 p.m., Saturday
Burberry store on Michigan Avenue: Broken windows.
“George Floyd” written outside of the Burberry store, which was also broken into. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/nMP2EI7kUI — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
9:03 p.m., Saturday
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T-Mobile store on Michigan Avenue: Apparent looting.
Just watched someone take a 2 by 4 and destroy the glass of the T-Mobile store. A handful of cops are just standing and watching at the corner of Michigan and Superior. There’s only six of them so I imagine they feel a little helpless. #Chicago — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
9:14 p.m., Saturday
Walgreens at State and Randolph streets: Windows broken.
The Walgreens at state/Randolph pic.twitter.com/vFOXxhMIbT — Madeline Buckley is on furlough (@Mabuckley88) May 31, 2020
9:28 p.m., Saturday
Zara clothing store on Michigan Avenue: Apparent looting.
Close up of the Zara damage. A guy standing outside with a bulldog on a leash told a girl to take a silver suitcase “it’s worth at least $500,” he said. #Chicago pic.twitter.com/aZmBZzvfb6 — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
9:29 p.m., Saturday
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Michigan Avenue and Superior Street: Report of shots fired.
I heard these shots. Six of them — three and three. #Chicago https://t.co/fjzPAAlhHT — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
9:37 p.m., Saturday
Michigan Avenue and Ontario Street: Police block the intersection.
9:42 p.m., Saturday
Ohio and State streets: Call of two people shot Saturday.
I’m over here at Ohio/State where there was a call of two people shot. #ChicagoScanner pic.twitter.com/dtozX14wKz — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) May 31, 2020
10:04 p.m., Saturday
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CVS store on South Wabash Avenue: Cameras taken from Chicago Tribune photographer.
12:31 a.m., Sunday
Two male victims shot on 50 block of West Jackson Boulevard.
1:29 a.m., Sunday
A 19-year-old man was shot multiple times on the 200 block of North Michigan Avenue.
3 a.m., Sunday
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A 26-year-old man was killed at the 100 block of West Hubbard Street.
6:30 a.m., Sunday
Protesters gather outside Mayor Lightfoot's house
“Wake up, Lori, wake up” Demonstrators rally outside Mayor Lightfoot’s house as Chicago’s overnight curfew ends at 6 am pic.twitter.com/RNOyk4lfLc — Brian Cassella (@briancassella) May 31, 2020
8:30 a.m., Sunday
Volunteers clean up in Loop.
8:30am Sunday: Volunteers along Michigan Avenue are out clearing broken glass pic.twitter.com/ppVCVRkulP — Brian Cassella (@briancassella) May 31, 2020
9:19 a.m., Sunday
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Two men were shot at 100 block of East Oak Street, 35-year-old and a 34-year-old.
9:51 a.m., Sunday
Outside The Langham hotel: Cleanup begins.
Crews cleaning graffiti outside the Langham hotel, bridges still up from last night. pic.twitter.com/5N0rwV4tdN — Jessica Villagomez (@JessicaVillag) May 31, 2020
10:42 a.m., Sunday
Macy's on State Street: Windows boarded up.
Crews boarding up Macy’s on State St. pic.twitter.com/RLA2XGgpiB — Jessica Villagomez (@JessicaVillag) May 31, 2020
10:55 a.m., Sunday
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Palmer House: City workers clean exterior.
We need to look out for one another and stand united. Thank you to our City employees and the many others working around the clock to help our city heal during this time. pic.twitter.com/hCBDlrWidy — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 31, 2020
11:15 a.m., Sunday
Mayor Lightfoot on looters from the previous night: "What you have done is to dishonor yourself, your family and your city. ... I know you can do better than what I saw last night and I pray to God that you find it in your heart to find something better for yourselves and your lives."
BREAKING: Mayor Lightfoot joins Supt. Brown, city officials, and community leaders to provide an update regarding last night's protests. https://t.co/Fiqe2x2vDf — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 31, 2020
11:50 a.m., Sunday
Gov. Pritzker: On activation of the Illinois National Guard in Chicago.
At the request of @chicagosmayor Lori Lightfoot, I am activating the Illinois National Guard to support the City of Chicago in protecting our communities and keeping people safe.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/kmQMIz3uQM — Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) May 31, 2020
1:50 p.m., Sunday
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State and Lake streets: Chicago police report four people were arrested for assaulting an officer.
Our #ChicagoPolice officers are working tirelessly to keep our city safe. Four offenders were placed in custody earlier today after assaulting a Chicago Police officer at State and Lake. The officers also recovered stolen goods from the offenders' vehicle. pic.twitter.com/HNwSVYB88X — Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) May 31, 2020
2:39 p.m., Sunday
King Drive and 35th Street: Peaceful march.
Peaceful march down 35th and King Drive in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/fIt9jl2HuA — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) May 31, 2020
4:15 p.m., Sunday
Michigan Avenue and 35th Street: People hold up signs and chant outside Chicago police headquarters.
Over 40 protesters outside police headquarters pic.twitter.com/PsHv8xrNXG — armando l sanchez (@mandophotos) May 31, 2020
4:23 p.m., Sunday
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Daley Plaza: People chant, "Say his name -- George Floyd," while kneeling.
4:48 p.m., Sunday
Guaranteed Rate Field: Illinois National Guard vehicles parked outside the White Sox's ballpark.
The scene at Sox park pic.twitter.com/8s6bqkaX4s — armando l sanchez (@mandophotos) May 31, 2020
4:59 p.m., Sunday
Marshfield Avenue and 47th Street: People guard businesses and street vendors.
Young community activists are guarding small businesses in Back of The Yards, others are checking on street vendors in LV pic.twitter.com/jH7o76TAdP — Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) May 31, 2020
5:12 p.m., Sunday
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47th and Halsted streets: City Sports Outlet looted.
On 47th and Halsted, mad dash into City Sports Outlet. People running into the store and emerging with handfuls of clothing. pic.twitter.com/Vcu2AtG04u — Jessica Villagomez (@JessicaVillag) May 31, 2020
5:48 p.m., Sunday
87th Street Center: Looted.
The Chatham mall on 87th is badly looted with shopping carts strewn all over the Jewel and Home Depot. Dozens of officers searching the area. And theyre using carts to block entrance to the lots. pic.twitter.com/IS0XNTKNrx — Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) May 31, 2020
6:36 p.m., Sunday
Daley Plaza: Fist bumps exchanged.
Jamel Franklin fist bumps after speaking with a Chicago police lieutenant during a protest Sunday. Franklin: "There is something inherently wrong with the whole system. Because they have a target on their back and so do I,” said Franklin. "Nobody wants to see Chicago burn down." pic.twitter.com/35jdZJlAQi — Brian Cassella (@briancassella) May 31, 2020
6:38 p.m., Sunday
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Commercial Avenue and 89th Street: Stores looted.
Looting scenes in South Chicago, a working class neighborhood I still have family in. Sad. pic.twitter.com/Cl5xYWCYs6 — Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) May 31, 2020
6:46 p.m., Sunday
Karlov Avenue and Madison Street: Chicago police and fire respond to a fire.
Police engage residents while providing security for firefighters near Karlov and Maddison. pic.twitter.com/p6ASeKo6LK — armando l sanchez (@mandophotos) May 31, 2020
6:56 p.m., Sunday
Stoney Island Avenue and 95th Street: Hair supply store looted.
Looters outside a beauty salon at 95th and Stony Island in Chicago filled a U-Haul with weave and hair supplies. With @JessicaVillag pic.twitter.com/I827hQKhAP — Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) May 31, 2020
7:52 p.m., Sunday
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Kedzie Avenue and Cermak Road: Car on fire.
A scene on the corner of Cermak Rd and Kenzie Av. pic.twitter.com/3dvmFsbDsP — Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) June 1, 2020
9:26 p.m., Sunday
Wells Street and North Avenue: Chicago police tell people to go home.
“This is the Chicago Police Department. You are in violation of the curfew law.” #Chicago North/Wells pic.twitter.com/QeiLxdPZbG — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) June 1, 2020
1:13 a.m., Monday
Ashland and Milwaukee avenues: Looting with police on the scene.
1:45 a.m., Monday
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Ashland Ashalnd and 18th Street: People and police stand watch.
It’s almost 2 am and Pilsen residents are out here guarding 18th st. pic.twitter.com/cssqjSutCx — Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) June 1, 2020
6:05 a.m., Monday
Summary of the night's events.
Violence last night was different than that of the day before. Previously, everything and everyone was focused on downtown and the high-end stores. Now that downtown was cutoff, people went to neighborhood stores all throughout the city: North, South and West. #Chicago — Paige Fry (@paigexfry) June 1, 2020
6:36 a.m., Monday
Jeffery Blvd. and 95th Street: Dollar Tree on fire.
10 a.m., Monday
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Halsted Street and North Avenue: Jewelry store looted overnight.
Looters hit a jewelry store in Lincoln Park at Halsted and North pic.twitter.com/fYLIVah1R6 — Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 1, 2020
12:08 p.m., Monday
Around the city: Cleanup efforts begin.
Gage Park youth helping to clean the streets from the looting damages. pic.twitter.com/LBol5nJlpL — Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) June 1, 2020
1 p.m., Monday
California Avenue and 55th Street: People walk through Gage Park cleaning up stores despite the rain.
Gage Park youth helping to clean the streets from the looting damages. pic.twitter.com/LBol5nJlpL — Laura N. Rodríguez Presa (@LAURA_N_ROD) June 1, 2020
3:15 p.m., Monday
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Cottage Grove Avenue and 47th Street: Volunteers clean sidewalks.
You can’t tell people how to process pain, how to react when they’re hurting. We got outside this morning on 47th and Cottage Grove in Chicago and tried to be part of the solution. pic.twitter.com/98JjHVKxtT — DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) June 1, 2020
3:38 p.m., Monday
Jewel-Osco at Stony Island Avenue and 75th Street: Visited by Mayor Lightfoot.
Grocery stores like the Jewel in South Shore are vital to our neighborhoods, and when these businesses—big or small—are hurt, our communities hurt, too. As long as we work together, I know we’ll come out of this stronger. That’s a promise. pic.twitter.com/qebd93sSgi — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) June 1, 2020
3:42 p.m., Monday
Peaceful march ends with message to CPD on protest arrests: “Where are our loved ones?”
Walked with group of youth from Harold Washington Cultural Center to CPD precinct at 18th/State. “This is not a riot,” they chanted on the peaceful way here - nearly 3.5 miles. Now they want information on people they believe were arrested at protests. “Where are our loved ones?” pic.twitter.com/kPokQb9KI3 — Hannah Leone (@HannahMLeone) June 1, 2020
4:05 p.m., Monday
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Chappel Avenue and 71st Street: People dance together.
Protesters dance and rally on 71st Street in South Shore as demonstrations continue across the city. More coverage: https://t.co/4JmBiwtTeZ pic.twitter.com/lXjEtvJNMp — Brian Cassella (@briancassella) June 1, 2020
5:41 p.m., Monday
Broadway near Belle Plaine Avenue: People walk with signs.
Marchers in Uptown. Peaceful protesting. pic.twitter.com/dozWxe4B5z — Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) June 1, 2020
6:38 p.m., Monday
Broadway and Sunnyside Avenue: Blocks of people sit or kneel outside Target.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s a daily look at wh

Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s a daily look at where each region stands.

With each of the state ’ s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s Restore @ @ @ @ @ starts on moving on to Phase 4 , where more businesses and activities are allowed @ @ @ @ @ Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital @ @ @ @ @ depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker .

Chad Yoder, Nausheen Husain, Jennifer Smith Richards, Jonathon Berlin

With each of the state’s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the clock starts on moving on to Phase 4, where more businesses and activities are allowed. The plan to reopen Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital to concerts and festivals — depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker.
The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of the outbreak as well as availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge. There are also benchmarks for testing and tracing positive tests.
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
A key element of the plan is that a region can move both forward and backward, where more parts of society can open and shut depending on the seriousness of the outbreak.
Here is a breakdown of where each region stands.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood

Search below by street address , ZIP code or city , then click on the map to see the number @ @ @ @ @ state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer .

Note: With Chicago and Illinois moving into phase 5, the Tribune is no longer updating this data. If the state moves back into bridge phase, the Tribune we reassess. Daily metrics on COVID-19, like cases, deaths and hospitalizations, can be found here. And Daily metrics on the vaccination effort can be found here. More on where the coronavirus stands nationally and around the world can be found here.
Illinois releases the number of positive COVID-19 cases by ZIP code daily. The map below shows the cumulative cases for each area as well as other analysis of the data.
• Check out the Tribune’s coronavirus coverage.
• Tracking daily Illinois coronavirus deaths, cases and tests.
Search below by street address, ZIP code or city, then click on the map to see the number of confirmed and probable cases. The state is not providing data for any ZIP code with five cases or fewer.
Data as of June 10.
The map search tool above works best in Chrome or Firefox and may not perform consistently in Internet Explorer.
Note: Because of a coding error this map was displaying the incorrect rates for new cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 people — the issue should now be resolved.. The Tribune adjusted the data shown on the map below to focus on new cases, those the state tracked in the last 7 seven days. The totals for the entire pandemic are still available, but in the pop-up after tapping or clicking on a ZIP.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,390 deaths, 120,260 confirmed cases, 898,259 tests,  13.5% positivi

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 5,390 deaths, 120,260 confirmed cases, 898,259 tests,  13.5% positivity rate for Northeast region

As the coronavirus spreads and local , state and national governments work to contain and mitigate the outbreak , the @ @ @ @ @ .

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracked coronavirus cases, deaths and test totals from Jan. 22, 2020 through March 10, 2023, but is no longer providing this data. These charts will no longer be updated.
Check the Illinois Department of Public Health for the most up-to-date data for Illinois.
[ Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus ]
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Officials report 1,343 new known COVID-19 cases and 60 more deaths

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Officials report 1,343 new known COVID-19 cases and 60 more deaths as Lightfoot says Chicago’s reopening on June 3 could be delayed

“ Business has decreased dramatically since restrictions went in place — we ’ ve seen at least a 70 % @ @ @ @ @ pickup and takeout orders didn ’ t help as much as one would think , @ @ @ @ @ said the restaurant had to furlough 80 % of its staff , but they ’ @ @ @ @ @ or five employees to help with the outdoor eating area .
About 40 people can @ @ @ @ @ still in place , Salazar said .

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Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Health officials reported on Sunday 1,343 new known cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 120,260 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported another 60 deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,390.
The new numbers come as Mayor Lori Lightfoot said looting over the weekend in Chicago could delay the city’s reopening scheduled for June 3.
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[ Tracking Illinois reopening metrics: Phase 4 can begin as soon as June 26. Here’s where each region stands. ]
[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
[ As the coronavirus spreads, the Tribune is tracking Illinois cases here ]
Here’s what’s happening this weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:
Sunday
7:50 p.m.: Businesses reeling from pandemic face rebuilding after George Floyd protests give way to looting
This week was supposed to mark a milestone for a city looking forward to reopening after nearly three months of being sidelined by COVID-19.
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Chicago’s economic engine was expected to restart, with outdoor dining permitted at restaurants, hair salons reopening, and nonessential stores welcoming in customers Wednesday for the first time since mid-March. Other workplaces, like offices, also were given guidelines to reopen. Combined, the moves were expected to chip away at the city’s unemployment rate, which had climbed to 18.9% in April.
Instead, businesses in Chicago spent Sunday sweeping up glass, boarding up windows and taking stock of destroyed stores and stolen inventory amid fallout from the death in Minneapolis last week of George Floyd. Long before night had fallen, any hope that workers, consumers and business would return to a sense of normalcy had been dashed. Read more here. —Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Lauren Zumbach and Ryan Ori
3:15 p.m.: Officials report 1,343 new cases of COVID-19 and 60 additional fatalities
Illinois officials on Sunday announced 1,343 new cases of COVID-19 and 60 additional fatalities, bringing the total of known cases to 120,260 and the death toll to 5,390 statewide since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 21,154 new tests in the last 24 hours.
12:30: Lightfoot says looting could delay Chicago’s reopening on June 3
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said unrest over the weekend in Chicago could delay the city’s reopening scheduled for June 3. The mayor said that she has been in touch with the city’s public health commissioner about it.
“We will make a determination about whether we can go forward as planned,” Lightfoot said at a Sunday news conference. —Gregory Pratt
Saturday
4:34 p.m.: Diners out in force at The Glen. ‘It is heavenly.’
In north suburban Glenview, diners were out in force Saturday afternoon at the Glen Town Center, where outdoor seating at some restaurants extended into the street and was blocked off by large orange barricades. While some wore masks, people of all ages dined and shopped without them, or left them hanging around necks or below their noses.
Employees at The Curragh Irish Pub install lights on their patio at the Glen Town Center in Glenview on May 30, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
At El Tradicional, Debby Weber, 65, and an out-of-town cousin perched on a high-top a half-hour before the Mexican restaurant opened for service. They contentedly looked over the menu, taking in the fine weather and the foreign experience of eating at a restaurant after months of staying in.
“It’s heavenly,” said Weber, who lives in Northfield. The pair first went to Arlington Heights, lured by news that the village would close some streets to traffic to allow for more outdoor dining space. But with the closures not in effect Saturday, patrons saw hourlong wait times for restaurants there. The pair came to Glenview instead and were the only diners at El Tradicional at the time.
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“We have our masks if we need them,” said Weber, patting her purse. “But I’ve been very careful, and I plan to stay that way.”
While many of the shopping center’s restaurants were open, along with anchor stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Von Maur, other retailers remained closed or open only for takeout and delivery. Taking advantage of the good weather, some propped open doors to signal they were ready for customers.
At The Curragh Irish Pub, guests sat at about half of the outdoor tables, while masked servers bustled around.
Dimitri Jurgensen paused from his work as a server to adjust a sign listing the restaurant’s coronavirus-related precautions outside. He came from Holland, Michigan, this weekend to help his aunt with her restaurant’s reopening. During lunchtime service Saturday, he said the restaurant has been busy, but not slammed.
“It’s nice to get out of the house and be making some money again,” he said. “I’ve been doing takeout orders at my family’s restaurant, but it’s not the same money I make serving.” —Ariel Cheung
4:33 p.m.: ‘... It’s summer and people don’t want to be home’
Handfuls of residents walked through downtown Aurora and sat in restaurants’ outdoor areas Saturday afternoon, standing in stark contrast to the bustling patios and shops in neighboring Naperville’s downtown.
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Aurora leaders have long sought to energize and transform the city’s downtown into an entertainment and arts hub. The area had just begun to redefine itself and attract new restaurants when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
Since then, one of the downtown’s largest draws, the Paramount Theatre, has remained closed.
Some downtown restaurants also remained closed to in-person customers, lacking outdoor seating. At Ballydoyle Irish Pub, a handful of diners sat on the back patio in the midafternoon, though general manager Kevin Kauper said the restaurant had attracted a nice crowd for lunch, and owners intended to expand outdoor seating moving forward.
Altiro Latin Fusion, which opened in Aurora weeks before the state required restaurants to close to in-person dining, was busier than owners expected, but remained below its capacity, general manager Jessica Contreras said. That was likely because the restaurant is requiring customers to make reservations before arriving as part of its social distancing and safety precautions, she said.
She expected business to pick up, however, and the restaurant was working with the city to expand into the street to add additional tables.
“I think it’ll definitely be picking up,” she said. “Especially because it’s summer and people don’t want to be home.” —Sarah Freishtat
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4:27 p.m.: Nearly 2,000 people attend Oak Park Farmers’ Market on opening day
Nearly 2,000 people attended the Oak Park Farmers’ Market on its opening day. Customers were required to wear masks and only 150 people at a time were allowed to shop from the 23 vendors.
Vendors wear masks as customers are reminded to shop with their eyes and not touch at the Oak Park farmers market on May 30, 2020. The farmers market has been redesigned for social distancing. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Customers were encouraged to “shop with eyes only,” as several vendors featured signs asking customers to not touch the products. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes were available.
To accommodate public health guidelines amid the pandemic, vendors were spread through a three-block radius and each vendor was at least 6 feet apart.
“We have had amazing positive feedback, I’m really excited we are having the market,” said Mindy Agnew, the sustainability coordinator for the Village of Oak Park.
Shopper Janice Tonietto said she was worried the market wouldn’t open this summer. She said she liked the fresh vegetables and fruits and drove from Berwyn to the market to buy asparagus.
“I was thrilled when I heard it was going to be opening,” said Tonietto, who indicated she preferred not to wear a mask.
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"I’m one of those who wishes that it would open more quickly (and) lose the mask, the mask really bothers me,” she added. “But if wearing it gets me into the market, I’ll wear it.”
For the last 45 years, Kenny Stover, owner of Stover Farm Market, has been selling his signature dehydrated fruit and veggies, jelly, and honey at the Oak Park market.
Like Tonietto, he said he was concerned about how the pandemic would affect the market’s opening date and guidelines. However, he praised organizers for the setup and suggested that more than 150 customers should be allowed to enter the market at once.
“Sales were fairly decent for an opening day,” Stover added. —Laura Rodriguez Presa
4:15 p.m.: ‘She’s my first hug in months.'
With temperatures in the high 60s, children rolled down hills, skateboarders took out their cameras to shoot moves and others exercised with personal trainers in Grant Park on Saturday.
Patrice Clarke of Lakeview met her best friend Monica Barry of Bronzeville in the park for a picnic. Despite their online get-togethers, the two were all smiles breaking bread in the sunshine.
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“She’s my first hug in months,” Clarke said. “I wanted a hug so much, but I didn’t know what to do.”
Barry said she went in for it. The friends said they hadn’t been ill during the stay-at-home order.
“Yes, seeing each other online is OK, but there’s nothing like being in a person’s space and feeling their energy,” Clarke said.
Barry laughed in agreement, and said she didn’t want to get in trouble with the mayor. They had their face masks in tow, but were not donning them while eating waffle cookies.
Johana Batista, a new South Loop resident, was out with her family riding Divvy bikes — nine members strong wearing face masks.
“It’s such a nice day, my sister came by with her children and we thought, ‘why not get the kids out,'" she said. “With the kids not seeing the sun due to school and the recent weather, we thought this would be fun for them.”
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Maalik Falsetto, a recent graduate of DePaul University, was in Grant Park taking professional graduation photos in his cap and gown with friend Ariana R. Jordan. He, with a master’s degree in producing, her with a master’s degree in screenwriting, Falsetto said Jordan set up the shoot. She didn’t get to have a graduation ceremony because of the coronavirus restrictions, but Falsetto did since he graduated a semester ahead of Jordan.
“She’s heading to Hollywood in August, but I’m going to make a go of it in Chicago,” said Falsetto, a Hyde Park resident. “I’ve been busy with pre-production for a number of projects even with COVID-19 restrictions.”
South suburbanites were out to enjoy the weekend as well. Crest Hill couple Dave and Carol Worth were outside the Tex-Mex eatery Chuy’s on Saturday morning enduring a 20-minute wait. Carol said it’s her favorite restaurant and she was just tired of cooking.
Chuy’s patio was full with patrons sitting at 10 tables distanced 6 feet apart. It’s been a steady stream of foot traffic since the patio opened to the public Friday, said Jose Salazar, the general manager.
“Business has decreased dramatically since restrictions went in place — we’ve seen at least a 70% decrease. And the curbside pickup and takeout orders didn’t help as much as one would think,” he said. He said the restaurant had to furlough 80% of its staff, but they’ve already brought back four or five employees to help with the outdoor eating area. About 40 people can eat safely with social distancing still in place, Salazar said.
“We’re just excited to have people here,” said Larry Cappos, Chuy’s Chicagoland area supervisor. “People are just looking to get out because it makes them feel normal again. And people are looking for a sense of normalcy.”
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Friends Jill Loffredo and Joan Rohrich, Oak Forest residents, were excited for their version of normalcy, waiting outside Frankfort’s Fat Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar. The two friends said this was their first outing together in months.
“We wanted to hit a couple of the stores, do a little shopping, while we were out,” Loffredo said. “Staying inside all this time, can really get you down. My husband and I are both retired, so we like to go out and enjoy a meal. He didn’t find the food that we pick up for takeout as good as having it in person.”
Trail’s Edge Brewing Co. opened its outdoor seating area Friday evening and, according to manager Ken Majewski, there wasn’t an open table for up to four hours. With 22 tables 6 feet apart, he suggested people call ahead for wait times, since they are not taking reservations at this time.
“People are just so happy to be out, some of our servers are getting 100% tips,” he said. “I’m expecting full capacity tonight as well.”
Frankfort resident Laurie Miller was out enjoying a meal with her daughter Samantha Miller, a student at St. Louis University. They were both sporting wide grins after just coming from getting manicures. They sat in the shade taking in the environment.
“Thank God places are opening,” Laurie Miller said. “Just to walk, get some air and not have to cook? It feels good. It feels good to let someone else serve me a meal.” —Darcel Rockett
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Rogers Park resident Diane Manning eagerly patronized her favorite coffee shop, Patisserie Coralie, in Evanston on Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
3:38 p.m.: ′In an ideal world, we might be waiting a little longer'
Diane Manning has patiently awaited the reopening of her favorite Evanston spot, Patisserie Coralie, for months. As she drove by Saturday morning, she noticed activity inside and stopped by for a coffee and a caprese croissant.
She sat at one of just a few small folding tables outside the cafe, where sunlight and a gentle breeze made for perfect dining al fresco.
“It’s been challenging for me, because I’m such an active person,” said Manning, a swim instructor in her 60s. “To sit at home has been hard.”
At the same time, she was critical of passersby not wearing masks as they traversed downtown Evanston. A couple of maskless cyclists caught her eye as she sipped on her iced coffee, while only about half the people had masks on as they meandered down sidewalks in small clusters.
“That’s not going to help us,” she said. “I just don’t understand the thought process.”
Inside Patisserie Coralie, co-workers Katie Delicath and Justin Pierce were delighted to be back at their full-time job. The cafe was bustling for most of the morning, with a line of eager patrons outside as the eatery let four people inside at a time, they said. A hanging sheet of plexiglass separated them from customers, and they both wore face coverings.
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“It’s extremely nice to have something to do,” said Pierce, who wore a bandana around his face. “Although I honestly felt like I had maybe forgotten how to make all the drinks.”
And while getting a paycheck again is a big relief for them financially, both said they were concerned about the state reopening too quickly.
“In an ideal world, we might be waiting a little longer,” Pierce said. “But also, people need to be at work.”
They also considered themselves fortunate to be healthy enough to do so.
“There are immunocompromised people who don’t have the luxury of being excited for this,” Delicath said. “Older people who maybe aren’t comfortable going places.”
John Okonek, right, sits with wife Sharon Okonek outside Colectivo Coffee in Evanston as the state's loosened restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic allow for outdoor dining everywhere except Chicago on Saturday, May 30, 2020. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
Around the block, Colectivo Coffee’s outdoor sidewalk patio was busy as well. Most customers wore masks, including John and Sharon Okonek, of East Glenview, who stopped by for a drink after visiting the Evanston farmers market.
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“I think people are fed up, and that’s what is driving this,” Sharon Okonek said of the reopening. “It corresponds with the change in the weather. People are just ready to come out, and I do worry that it’s not the right time scientifically.”
The couple will wait awhile to visit a restaurant for a full meal, expecting crowds of diners in the first few weeks. They want to proceed with caution, and plan to keep an eye on Wisconsin, which reopened earlier than Illinois.
“I’m waiting for us to have a big flare (of cases) and for all the staying at home to have been all for nothing,” Sharon Okonek said.
Not all stores and restaurants were open Saturday in Evanston. While places like a comic book shop, a mattress store and Aloha Poke Co. had doors open, some remained closed altogether or only open for takeout and delivery. —Ariel Cheung
3 p.m.: ‘I fully understand. ... I will take my chances.’
Dayna Nguyen, waiting to enter the patio at Potter’s Place in downtown Naperville with her husband, two daughters and parents, was anxious to get out Saturday. She and her family had recently returned from a weeklong vacation in Florida, where stores and beaches opened earlier than they did in Illinois.
“I am a grown adult with all the information,” she said. “I fully understand. ... I will take my chances.”
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She said she respects individuals’ choices about how to respond to the virus, but her family runs a small business and she was anxious to get the economy moving again. Her family followed quarantine guidelines through March and April, she said. But then came May. “
You broke us, come May,” she said. She kept her distance as she asked a hostess at Potter’s Place for a table on the crowded patio.
Tables were more spread out than usual on the patio, general manager Matt Galanes said. A few were kept empty to try to space out entrances to the restaurant, and seats at the outdoor bar were reduced from about 25 to between six and eight.
“I think everyone is a little concerned, but the vibe is, everyone’s anxious to get out," he said. Though a steady stream of customers came to the patio, business was slower than typical for a May Saturday, he said.
The restaurant rented a concrete lot next door to add additional tables on weekend nights, but Galanes said he didn’t anticipate Potter’s Place would need the extra space on weeknights.
Servers were not as busy as usual, but they had to do extra work like sanitizing tables. And some staff and patrons had to be educated on safety precautions, he said, as he approached a group of young customers who had pulled two tables together to tell them they had to maintain their distance.
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“Ultimately, the number one thing is safety and educating the clients and then also our staff," he said. “We all have different opinions about what’s going on in the world, and we just have to keep our staff and patrons safe to the best of our ability.” —Sarah Freishtat
2:53 p.m.: ‘There’s only a handful of families and there’s no laughter from the children’
At Glencoe Beach, where the required season passes swiftly sold out this month, a lone sailboat bobbed in a turquoise swath of Lake Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Only a few dozen visitors, primarily young families, soaked up the sunshine on the nearly empty shoreline.
While a few youngsters dipped their toes in the icy water lapping the North Shore beach, swimming is currently verboten, and officials have said even if the prohibition is lifted later this summer, it will be “swim at your own risk” with no lifeguards on duty.
“This is absolutely joyless ... there’s only a handful of families and there’s no laughter from the children,” said Northbrook resident Marian Cross, who said she and her family have been season pass holders at the beach for more than 20 years.
Gesturing toward a clutch of masked visitors strolling on the beach’s lookout, Cross said, “This is all so sad.”
“The experience this year is a dismal one, but I’m still glad it’s open, and I appreciate that the park district made that decision,” Cross added.
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Danny Kogan, 21, a Glencoe resident and Northwestern University student, said he enjoyed spending a few hours on the beach Saturday afternoon, especially since his social life has been limited in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My grandmother lives with us, and she’s 80, so I understand why my mom is being so strict about me hanging out with friends,” said Kogan, who rode his bike to the beach.
The Glencoe Park District says the season pass requirement is aimed at limiting visitors to avoid overcrowding and help ensure social distancing. Kogan noted the upside and downside.
“The season pass rule makes it rough when I have friends in town who want to come to the beach, but there’s usually no parking, even for residents most summers, when the beach is really crowded,” Kogan said. —Karen Cullotta
Vivian Killebrew, owner of Evanston's Stepping Out On Faith consignment shop, opened for business Saturday, May 30, 2020, as the state loosened its restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic and entered phase three of its recovery plan. (Ariel Cheung/Chicago Tribune)
2:19 p.m.: Opening consignment shop this weekend in Evanston was a mixed bag, owner says
For Vivian Killebrew, opening her Stepping Out on Faith consignment shop this weekend in Evanston was a mixed bag. She felt the state had loosened its restrictions of the stay-at-home order a little too quickly. At the same time, her store is behind on rent, and she has bills to pay.
“I’ve been here for 10 years,” said Killebrew, 62. “I don’t know if I’m going to be here another six months.”
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Like other retail across the state, Stepping Out closed in late March, when the order went into effect. In the months that followed, Killebrew lost three family members to COVID-19, and she was denied a small business loan because, as she put it, “we were too small to qualify.”
She had few customers on her first two days in business, and spent most of the time straightening out her inventory and putting some of it aside to donate to Connections for the Homeless. The problem with selling seasonal merchandise, she said, is that she missed out on collecting summer clothes from sellers in time for the summer shoppers.
“By the time the summer stuff comes in, it’ll be winter,” she noted.
Killebrew said she is hopeful business will pick up, despite some shuttered shops nearby. Should a spike in cases force the state to revert to phase two, however, she’ll likely have to close permanently.
“That would really make the decision for me,” she said. “It’s sad, because there’s really nothing you can do about it.” —Ariel Cheung
2:40 p.m.: 1,462 new known COVID-19 cases and 61 additional deaths
Public health officials reported on Saturday 1,462 new known cases of COVID-19, pushing the total number of known cases in Illinois to 118,917 since the pandemic began. Officials also reported another 61 deaths.
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The new cases were reported in 14 counties in Illinois including Coles, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, Madison, McHenry, McDonough, St. Clair, Tazewell, Union, Will and Winnebago.
IDHP has reported a total of 5,330 deaths in 101 counties, with ages ranging from one to older than 100. Within the last 24 hours, 25,343 specimens have been sent to laboratories, for a total of 877,105. —Deanese Williams-Harris
1:48 p.m.: Steady stream of families in downtown Naperville
A steady stream of families filed along downtown Naperville’s sidewalks Saturday afternoon, many wearing masks and many without.
There was a line outside to get into clothing boutique Havana, as the store had limited its capacity to no more than 10 people.
Naperville resident Sherri Daniels said she normally doesn’t wait in lines at stores but she felt bad that Havana was closing. A sale also likely brought out shoppers, she said.
“It’s sad to see these businesses close after this time,” Daniels said. “You hope they’d make it.”
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Manager Monica Sebesta said the store was looking for a new location in part because its lease was up and it would be continuing to operate an online store. The closing was not related to the COVID-19 shutdown, she said.
Daniels said stores reopening provided something to do. She said she felt more concerned about safety waiting in line, where people wore masks but had congregated behind her, than she did entering a store. As long as shoppers wore masks and stores limited capacity, and everyone was mindful of safety precautions, she felt safe.
A couple blocks away, the rooftop patio and sidewalk tables at Empire were full at lunchtime Saturday. The restaurant had also been packed on Friday, general manager Raffi Demerdjian said. As long as the restaurant practiced required social distancing and safety measures, he felt confident diners would return. And he thinks the restaurant’s reduced outdoor capacity and takeout business will keep it operating, though he wasn’t happy about the restrictions, he said.
“I think people are just tired of being home and want to go out,” he said.
That was the case for Rob Sheppard, who lives in Chicago but was sharing lunch with his girlfriend, Sydney Schoolcraft, after he played a round of golf in the suburbs.
“I’ve been cooped up long enough,” he said. Schoolcraft, who used to work at Empire, said she felt safe with everyone wearing masks and tables spaced 6 feet apart. She had visited some other suburban restaurants Friday, and was trying to support businesses she knows, she said.
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“I think it’s time to open up,” she said. —Sarah Freishtat
5 a.m.: Animals at university research labs still get care during the pandemic — but scores of mice have been euthanized to conserve ‘critical resources’
As researchers wrapped up their experiments in March to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order, another problem dogged the University of Illinois at Chicago: How would it continue tending to the 40,000 lab animals housed on campus?
Veterinarians and maintenance staff were deemed essential workers to handle the cage cleaning, feeding and daily health checks required for animals used in federally sponsored research. They are given personal protective equipment and instructed to follow social distancing.
But other aspects of UIC’s response ― including a recent memo that asked scientists to consider euthanizing older rodents ― are likely to stir more controversy, especially from organizations that have long opposed the use of animals in research. Read more here. —Elyssa Cherney
5 a.m.: Sewage may help predict future virus outbreaks. Chicago researchers aim to test hundreds or thousands of manholes at a time.
In the global effort to stem the novel coronavirus, every toilet flush reveals a vital clue.
Droplets we breathe, sneeze or cough through our mouths and noses aren’t the only source of SARS-CoV-2. Bits of genetic material from the virus also end up in our waste, offering local health departments life-saving opportunities to track, trace and prevent outbreaks.
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Researchers and technology startups involved in the rapidly developing science are finding signs of the virus in raw sewage days before people overwhelm hospitals with symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease driving a pandemic that already has killed more than 100,000 Americans and another 256,000 combined in other countries.
With the United States woefully behind on testing individuals, collecting samples from municipal sewers on a regular basis could give cities early warnings about where the disease is spreading. It also could indicate whether community lockdowns can be eased or if more stringent restrictions on daily life are needed. Read more here. —Michael Hawthorne
Clarification: The name of Oak Park Farmers’ Market vendor Kenny Stover was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. The story has been updated to fix the error.
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chicagotribune--2020-05-31--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot to discuss protest response

Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker is scheduled to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. Get the latest here .

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