The mayor-elect of Chicago, Illinois, said that while he does not condone violence, “it is not constructive to demonize” the teens who participated in four nights of violent rioting, which included a shooting on Saturday.
“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities,” Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said in a statement Sunday.
WATCH: Group Jumps on Car, Runs Across Traffic in Chicago During Teenage Weekend of Chaos:
Chicago’s sitting mayor, Lori Lightfoot, also released a statement, calling the rioting “reckless, disrespectful and unlawful behavior.”