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‘Silly Decisions’: Chicago Mayor-Elect Doubles Down On Defending Rioters

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Democratic Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson doubled down Wednesday on his defense of teenage rioters who stormed the city’s downtown area, breaking windows and beating pedestrians.

The mayor-elect made the comment at a press conference following his first visit to the Illinois General Assembly after winning the Chicago mayoral race. Johnson reiterated his earlier statement that the teenagers who ravaged downtown needed protection rather than punishment. (RELATED: CBS Host Pushes Back On Dem Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson As He Tries To Dodge Question On Taxes)

“Look, demonizing children is wrong. We have to keep them safe as well,” Johnson said, “Have you ever taught middle school? I have. Have you ever raised young people? Do you understand the risk young people take just because they’re young? Do you know that home plate is at the bottom of my stairs? I found that out when my son was sliding down those stairs, trying to score.”

Johnson also said that young people often make unwise decisions, and that the city has an obligation to support them through investment. Johnson has repeatedly argued that youth crime should be tackled with an increase in community investment rather than a “tough on crime” approach.

“They’re young. Sometimes they make silly decisions. They do. And so, we have to make sure that we are investing to make sure that young people know that they are supported. And we also have to make sure that police officers who put their lives on the line have the resources that they need to keep us safe,” Johnson said.

Following his recent statements on last weekend’s violence, some social media users shared comments he made as Cook County Commissioner during the 2020 George Floyd riots.

“You have to pay attention to the cries that people have,” he said at the time. “You can’t condone the looting that corporations continue to do every single day when they take tax dollars from black, brown, white folks all over the city of Chicago so that they can turn a profit.”