Chicago: Lightfoot Condemns Vigilantism After Group Wielding Makeshift Weapons Takes to the Streets of Bridgeport: ‘It Was Literally Causing Fear’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday denounced vigilantism after a group of men armed with baseball bats, pipes and other weapons seemingly patrolled Bridgeport a night earlier.

Reports of the vigilante posse, made up mostly of white men, come amid the civil unrest that has gripped the city after chaos ensued following Saturday’s downtown protest over the officer-involved killing of George Floyd. As the city continues to experience a wave of looting and vandalism, some residents have banded together and taken to the streets to protect their neighborhoods.

On Thursday, Lightfoot told reporters that it’s “absolutely not appropriate for people to take up arms, bats, pipes, whatever in patrolling neighborhoods.”

“We’ve seen that end with tragic results across the country and we’re not about to allow that practice to happen here in Chicago,” said Lightfoot, encouraging residents to call 911 for help.

“I absolutely support neighbors being vigilant as to what’s going on on their streets and in their blocks,” she added. “But taking up arms, that leads to chaos, and we’re not supporting vigilantism in the city of Chicago under any circumstances.”

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