Following Weekend of ‘Reckless, Disruptive’ Gatherings Downtown, Some Call For Teen Curfew to Return

The large gatherings resulted in 15 arrests

By NBC 5 Staff • Published April 17, 2023 • Updated 2 hours ago

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ADSvX5brN0

Some activists and business owners in Chicago are calling for officials to reinstate last summer’s citywide curfew for minors after this past weekend saw multiple days of large gatherings of young people that resulted in chaotic scenes and multiple arrests.

According to the Chicago Police Department, a total of 15 people — nine adults and six minors — were arrested late Saturday night after what appeared to be hundreds of people gathered near Millennium Park, with some engaging in “reckless and disruptive behavior,” police said.

In one instance, two teenagers were shot in the area of State and Madison streets in the middle of a large crowd.

A similar situation unfolded one day earlier at 31st Street Beach, when a 14-year-old boy was shot during a large gathering billed as a “teen trend” meetup.

“CPD responded to several large groups of juveniles and young adults in the downtown district engaging in reckless and disruptive behavior, putting themselves and the public at risk for harm,” officials said of the arrests.

While most charges were for reckless conduct, a 16-year-old male was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with one of the shootings that took place, officials said.

According to officials, several cars were damaged during incidents on both evenings, and the Chicago Transit Authority altered bus routes and bypassed several downtown train stations due to police activity Saturday night.