As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Chicago police and community leaders are preparing for the possibility of more teen takeovers after another large gathering in Hyde Park over the weekend.
Community activists, violence prevention groups and faith leaders say keeping young people safe will take more than just a police presence — it will also require stronger parent involvement, more youth programming and proactive outreach throughout the holiday weekend.
Videos posted on social media showed large crowds in Hyde Park Sunday night, with people running into streets, fighting and jumping on cars.
Chicago police said officers responded to a large gathering along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 55th Street at around 10:40 p.m. Sunday. Police said officers gave multiple warnings for the crowd to disperse before a 14-year-old girl allegedly struck an officer in the forehead. The officer suffered minor injuries.
The teen was taken into custody and charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and reckless conduct and a curfew violation, according to police.
Chicago Public Schools also sent a warning to parents, reminding them about curfew ordinances and the risks associated with large unsupervised gatherings. CPS said similar events in the past have resulted in injuries, arrests and curfew violations.
The Chicago Police Department said curfew will be strictly enforced throughout the city. Curfew begins at 10 p.m. for minors 12 and older and 8:30 p.m. for children younger than 12, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it is extended to 9 p.m.
Businessman and philanthropist Early Walker said the recent incidents show the city must take additional action before summer officially begins.
“I think it’s getting out of hand,” Walker said. “We’re not even all the way into the summer yet, kids are not out of school yet, and all chaos is breaking out.”
Walker has helped organize what he calls “parent takeovers,” in which adults gather in areas where large groups of teens are expected – to discourage violence and disruptive behavior. He believes more parents need to take an active role in supervising their children during the summer.
“I think that more parents need to get involved,” Walker said. “It is not the mayor’s job to police our kids. It’s not the police department’s job to police our kids.”
Violence prevention activist Tio Hardiman said outreach workers will be deployed throughout the city over Memorial Day weekend to try and prevent violence before it starts.
“We’re going to have about four or 500 outreach workers over the Memorial Day weekend to do our best to try to prevent violence on the front end,” Hardiman said. “Our goal is to stop it before the shots are fired.”
Hardiman also said young people need more safe spaces and recreational opportunities.
“These young people need an outlet,” he said, calling for more 24-hour recreational centers across Chicago.
Pastor Corey Brooks of Project H.O.O.D. echoed similar concerns, saying parents, community leaders and city leadership all have a role to play in preventing violence and disorder this summer.
“Young people need a place to go, and they need a place that can activate their minds to lead them down a different path,” Brooks said.
Brooks said his organization’s community center in Woodlawn — now about 80% complete — is designed to provide mentorship, programs and resources aimed at keeping young people engaged and off the streets.
Chicago police said officers will continue monitoring large gatherings throughout the holiday weekend and urged parents to discuss safety and curfew rules with their children before heading out.