Posted on April 28, 2023

Chicago Group Aims to Curb Youth Rioting With Amber Alert-Like System

Elizabeth Matthews, WFLD, April 20, 2023

A pressing issue for the Chicago Police Department and its incoming leadership is the downtown teen takeovers, as another gathering has been advertised on social media for this weekend.

But churches and community groups are now stepping up, in partnership with police, to curb the youth rioting.

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A new idea on the table is an Amber Alert-like system to let parents know these gatherings are happening.

Video from last Saturday downtown shows large crowds of young people causing mayhem. There were injuries, two people were shot, and property was damaged.

Now, the group “I’m Telling, Don’t Shoot” is partnering with Chicago police to give parents a heads-up that something might be happening.

Early Walker compares the initiative to the Amber Alert system.

“Everybody here probably has a phone in their pocket right now, so if you get a text right now, you are going to get the text and you are gonna say, ‘okay let me check, let me call my kids to make sure they are not there’ {snip}” Walker said.

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