Lightfoot lifts Chicago's 9 p.m. curfew, fully reopens Loop access

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday lifted the city's 9 p.m. curfew as the city reopened subway stations in the city's central business and commercial district and allowed bus service to resume in the area.

Lightfoot imposed the curfew on May 30, after widespread looting and vandalism got underway following peaceful protests about the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.

'œI know this time in our city and our country has been difficult for us all, and I'm grateful to our residents for working together to navigate this challenging time,'Å¥ she said in her Twitter announcement.

Access to the Loop was limited to essential workers for days, with bridges over the Chicago River raised and streets blocked. Several hundred Illinois National Guard were brought into Chicago to enforce the limited access.

Demonstrations protesting police brutality continued Sunday, as hundreds of people gathered at a South Side intersection. In addition to participants holding Black Lives Matter signs, organizers said they wanted to bring attention to the lack of stores after looting.

Community activist Jahmal Cole said parts of the South Side have become food and pharmacy deserts, with residents having to travel 15 to 20 minutes for milk or their medications.