As Chicago gears up to host the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this August, with an expected influx of 50,000 visitors, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is facing scrutiny over its revised policies on handling protests and mass arrests; tensions are palpable in light of recent excessive force complaints. Superintendent Larry Snelling insists the CPD is ready, as reported by NBC Chicago, stating that officers have undergone de-escalation and specialized training in anticipation of potential riots, but critics question the likelihood of escalation given the department's past responses to protests.
Earlier issues have compounded concerns, starting with three excessive force complaints stemming from an incident involving student protesters, as detailed by USA Today, where officers were accused of using unnecessary force during a demonstration outside the Art Institute of Chicago, an action that is alarming to free speech advocates and has led to calls for revisions to the CPD's approach to protest management and emergency preparedness in the run-up to the convention, raising fears that the DNC could mirror the tumultuous events of 1968.
According to Snelling, mass arrest is considered a last resort, yet a new policy aiming to streamline mass arrest procedures has sparked legal challenges; Sheila Bedi, a professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, told USA Today, that such measures evince the CPD's "historical animus toward protesters," underscoring a significant divide between law enforcement strategies and civic freedoms.
Police preparedness for the DNC and its proximity to high-stakes national politics are underscored by the mention of last week's guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump, with U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle affirming that no specific security threats have emerged consequently Snelling acknowledged vandalism and violence may occur amid the large crowds, Superintendent Larry Snelling on Tuesday touted the nation’s second-largest police department as fully prepared to handle crowds of protesters expected during the Democratic National Convention, including new ways to handle possible mass arrests, according to NBC Chicago.
