Photo courtesy of ABC7 News.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has a plan to sue the city’s gangs, according to ABC7 News. The mayor announced the city’s plan to sue gangs during a press conference on Sept. 14.
A proposed ordinance would allow Chicago city attorney’s to sue gang members and seize all of their assets, and Lightfoot expects the ordinance to eventually get passed.
At least 524 murders have occurred in Chicago in 2021 as of Sept. 1, the worst since 1996 during a crack epidemic, and gun violence in the city is seemingly never-ending. Four people were shot and killed on Sept. 13, and another 10 were injured. Sixty-four people were shot in Chicago over the weekend including a four-year-old boy, and Lightfoot is
warning gangs that the city is going after their money.“We have to push back against these violent criminal gangs and we have to take their blood money that they are profiting from, killing our children our elders and others.”
“We have an opportunity to bring these violent street gangs into civil court, out of the shadows, expose them for what they are — and, if we’re successful, and I think we will be, take their assets and the profit motive for killing our babies. We have to put a marker down that we are using every tool in our toolkit to push back against these violent gangs that are leaving a trail of blood and death and misery in their wake.”
Lightfoot that the city was going to seize anything bought with laundered drug money including cars, cash and property.
The rise in the city’s gun violence is credited to several factors including the quarantine and pandemic, the lack of police officers due to COVID-19 and a general distrust of the police.
Anti-violence and at-risk youth programs also suffered during quarantine and the aftermath, which also is believed to have escalated the gun violence. The lack of mental health resources available in communities most affected by the violence is another factor.
Lightfoot is serious about her plans and told the gangs to put down their guns or else she’s going after their finances.
“Put down the guns, stop the violence,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “But if you choose to continue, then we will hold you accountable.”
And folks from Chicago know that Auntie Lori doesn’t play.