Last year, 52 shootings occurred in Chicago during Memorial Day weekend. The horrific three-day span marked the final May in the lone tenure of the city's infamous ex-Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The city's most violent weekend in five years also included a mass shooting that injured 23 people. Now, the concerning issue surrounding gun violence in the largest city of Illinois lies at the feet of Chicago's new Mayor, Brandon Johnson.
Upon defeating Lori Lightfoot in the Mayoral elections in February, Johnson assured his supporters of his stance against violence. His plan included the addition of 200 detectives and crisis centers, along with significant investment in the region's first responders. On Thursday, May 25th, Johnson announced a $2.5 million violence prevention plan leading into Memorial Day Weekend.
“With Memorial Day marking the start of summer in Chicago, it’s crucial that our city puts forward a comprehensive public safety strategy, including vital investments in our city’s young people,” Mayor Johnson said. “My administration’s top priority is building a city where every single resident feels safe, and in order to do that, we need everyone at the table. Today illustrates our commitment to working together across government, business, and community sectors— and with philanthropic organizations like the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities coalition—to bring solutions to communities most impacted by violence and advance our vision for a safer, stronger Chicago.”
Despite Mayor Johnson's new safety precautions, violence broke out across Chicago throughout the Memorial Day Weekend. By all accounts, the alarming numbers are sadly approaching last year's record-breaking number of 52 shootings and 9 deaths. Of the 44 Chicagoans shot between Saturday and Monday, one was a 77-year-old man, and the other was a two-year-old boy.
The 2023 Memorial Day Weekend has not ended yet. Monday is far from over, but for the natives of Chicago, hopefully, the violence is.
Source: ABC 7 Chicago
