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Chicago police to issue citation for another large party

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago police officials say they will issue a citation in connection with a wedding party at a North Side residence last week that spilled into the street in violation of efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus, Chicago police said Wednesday.

The Chicago Tribune reports a video of the April 23 party shows several dozen revelers, all white with some wearing masks, dancing to loud music before officers enforcing Illinois' stay-at-home orders broke up the crowd. No citation was issued at the time.

The announcement that a citation would be issued comes two days after police ticketed the owner of the northwest side home where they broke up a large gathering of young blacks over the weekend.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday both incidents should be treated "exactly the same.'ť

'œWe can't tolerate it anywhere. It's not just the black millennials,'ť Lightfoot said. 'ťIt's a problem wherever it rears its head.'ť

Police didn't explain why it was taking longer to issue a citation for the North Side party than for the weekend event.

"While officers are provided with enforcement discretion in certain aspects, enforcement of the statewide stay-at-home order is expected to be universal, regardless of neighborhood, community or district,'ť said Chicago police spokesman Luis Agostini.

Janeal Wright, 26, who threw the weekend party captured on Facebook live and prompting the ire of politicians and others, issued an apology Wednesday. He said the party was thrown to honor two friends killed in gun violence in 2018.

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