2 Dead, 60 Arrested After Day Of Violence And Unrest In Cicero

CICERO, IL — At least 60 people have been arrested and two people confirmed killed after a day of unrest in Cicero, where police have been confronting a violent and unruly crowd since late Monday afternoon. Police are describing the crowd as “outside agitators” who came to Cicero to stir up trouble after days of protests and unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

"These outside agitators and looters came to Cicero not to honor an individual who was killed, George Floyd, but to hurt innocent people, damage businesses that had nothing to do with the racist violence, and to make a racist statement that they are above the law," police spokesman Ray Hanania said.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, a large crowd gathered near 50th Street and Cermak Road, where police said people started looting and vandalizing several business in the area. The so-called agitators shot into the crowd killing two people, Hanania said. The three people believed to be involved in the shooting were taken into custody.

Police believe the group may have disembarked from a CTA Pink Line train, then spilled into Cicero and other suburbs after being rebuffed by the closure of downtown Chicago.

“The only shots fired have been by these outside agitators and looters who are not Cicero residents but have come into Cicero from Chicago and other areas,” Hanania said.

Hanania posted a video on Facebook showing employees of local stores standing guard in front of the businesses with bats and clubs in Cicero. Police are heard calling over a PA system urging the shopkeepers in English and Spanish to go inside and allow police to do their work.

Cicero officials say they won’t be imposing a curfew, except for the curfew already in place for children 16 and under to be home by 10 p.m.

“We don’t feel a curfew will do any good,” Hanania said. “To enforce a curfew would require police manpower better served protecting the community from individuals who are coming to the southwest and west suburbs to wreak havoc, and damage retail properties and hurt innocent citizens.”

More than 100 Cicero police officers were on patrol assisted by 120 county and state police.

Residents are asked to avoid any scenes where large groups may be gathering and to call 911.

“Let the police handle it,” Hanania said.

Cicero business owners guard their stores from possible looters. (Video courtesy of Ray Hanania)