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Chicago's Loop to reopen as suburb asks locals to stay home

Posted June 02, 2020 7:00 am

By SOPHIA TAREEN

Protesters hold signs at the corner of Chicago Ave. and Washington Street in Naperville, Ill., Monday, June 1, 2020. Protests were held throughout the country over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Mark Welsh/Daily Herald, via AP) The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - The general public will be allowed to enter Chicago's central business district and its commercial areas Wednesday, several days after roads were closed to limit access after violence erupted in the wake of marches protesting the death of George Floyd, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was announced Tuesday.

The resumption of access to the downtown area comes as the city begins to reopen after weeks of being shutdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials said exit ramps from nearby expressways that were closed will reopen and Chicago Transit Authority trains and bus service will be restored after being shutdown after weekend violence that saw stores broken into and burned.

Bridges over the Chicago River will be lowered to allow access from the city's North Side. However, officials say some exits from Lake Shore Drive will remain closed.

As Chicago officials restore access to downtown, authorities in a Chicago suburb where two people were fatally shot in unrest enforced safety precautions imposed Tuesday.

Cicero officials warned residents to 'œstay home and stay off the streets'ť and declared a 'œstate of emergency'ť a day after violence and destruction erupted in the town of about 84,000 west of Chicago.

Police, who responded to 41 calls of gunfire, said most of Monday's chaos stemmed from residents trying to defend businesses. Roughly 60 people were arrested, mostly for burglary and weapons violations. Two people died in separate shootings around 6 p.m. related to the violent clashes: a 27-year-old Cicero man and 29-year-old Chicago man.

'œWe stand with everyone who is outraged by the death of George Floyd," said Police Superintendent Jerry Chlada. 'œUnfortunately, some people were not protesting peacefully and took advantage of the situation.'ť'

Floyd, a black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed Floyd's neck with his knee as the man pleaded he couldn't breathe. Protests over his death and wider issues of race and police brutality have been followed by chaos for days, particularly around Chicago.

Meanwhile, federal charges were filed against a Chicago man caught on camera wearing a Joker mask setting fire to a police vehicle late Saturday.

Timothy O'Donnell is charged with arson. In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, photos show O'Donnell, 31, holding a lit object and putting it in the gas tank of Chicago Police Department SUV. Authorities say that although he was wearing the mask, he was identified through a ``PRETTY'ť tattoo seen on the person's neck. A family member directed authorities to O'Donnell, who was arrested Monday at his apartment.

The charge against O'Donnell follows charges filed Monday in Minnesota against Matthew Lee Rupert of Galesburg. Rupert is accused of traveling to Minneapolis, and then Chicago, to loot and riot. Rupert was arrested in Chicago and will be sent in federal custody back to Minnesota.

Access to downtown Chicago remained tightly controlled with road closures and limited public transportation.

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Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen.

Chelsea Lahaye sweeps up glass outside Talbots in downtown Naperville, Ill., Tuesday morning, June 2, 2020, following a night of looting and vandalism. "I just wanted to help the businesses that were already affected by the pandemic," Lahaye said. She was downtown sweeping by 7:30 and said there were a lot of volunteers out already. "It's definitely giving a feeling of hope." (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Volunteers congregate outside a Chico's store in downtown Naperville, Ill., Tuesday morning, June 2, 2020, following a night of looting and vandalism. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Pinky Amin, of Aurora, uses duct tape to pick up glass out of the sidewalk crevices outside a Barnes and Noble store in downtown Naperville, Ill., Tuesday morning, June 2, 2020, following a night of looting and vandalism. "This is my city, I'm here everyday," Amin said. "I love this place. I can't stand seeing this happening here." She said normally she'd be walking her dog downtown or having coffee at a nearby shop. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP) The Associated Press

People raise their hands in prayer during a protest outside the police station in Elgin, Ill., Monday night, June 1, 2020, against police brutality sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP) The Associated Press

Police watch protesters in Naperville, Ill., Monday, June 1, 2020. Protests were held throughout the country over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.Â (Mark Welsh/Daily Herald, via AP) The Associated Press

Protesters hold signs in Naperville, Ill., Monday, June 1, 2020. Protests were held throughout the country over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.Â (Mark Welsh/Daily Herald, via AP) The Associated Press

Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley and Commander Eric Echevarria, center and center right, join protesters on the steps of the police department after chants of "Stand With Us" during a protest in Elgin, Ill., Monday night, June 1, 2020. Protests were held throughout the country over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.Â (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP) The Associated Press

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