Jeremy Gorner and Gregory Pratt
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Chicago police will be issuing a citation in connection with a party at a West Rogers Park residence that spilled into the street last week, prompting police to break up the crowd for violating stay-at-home orders.
The party, first reported by Block Club Chicago, was recorded on video and showed a few dozen revelers dancing to loud music at an Orthodox Jewish wedding party outside a home at Farwell and Francisco avenues. Some people in the video could be seen wearing masks, but the crowd was too large to allow for following rules on social distancing.
Chicago police have said officers responded to the gathering shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday, dispersed the crowd and left the scene without issuing any citations.
But on Wednesday, Chicago police said a citation would be issued, though a spokesman could not immediately provide specifics. At the same time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during an afternoon news conference that enforcement action would be taken in connection with the wedding party in the same fashion that police took action with the owner of a Northwest Side home, where viral video showed dozens of young African American partygoers in close quarters who also were not practicing social distancing.
“They should be treated exactly the same,” Lightfoot said in reference to the wedding party nearly a week ago. “And we are making sure that we identify who’s responsible, and we will be taking the same kind of decisive action against that large wedding where the video shows people in cars, but people in the street not social distancing, not wearing appropriate mask or garb.
“We can’t tolerate it anywhere. It’s not just the black millennials. It’s a problem wherever it rears its head. We’re going to move decisively to, again, help educate, but where necessary, take action to give citations to the people who are responsible.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 went into effect March 21. Lightfoot also has directed Chicagoans to stay home and has closed local beaches and parks.