Chicago police warning of potential teen takeover Friday prompts alderman to renew push for earlier curfew

CHICAGO — Chicago police are warning business owners and people who live near Millennium Park to prepare for a possible “teen takeover” Friday night.

The warning has prompted some city leaders to renew their effort to move the city’s curfew time back from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. after an earlier attempt failed.  

2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins, who is behind the first attempt, says he’s working to get the measure up for a vote next week, and this time he thinks it has a good chance of passing — even without the mayor’s support.

“We can’t wait anymore. The warm weather is knocking on our door and with it comes increased activity. So we have to act now, rather then react after someone else gets shot,” Hopkins said.

A 46-year-old tourist and a 15-year-old boy were hit by gunfire at two different teen gatherings in Streetville last month.

Ald. Hopkins wants the current Chicago curfew to be moved back from 10 pm to 8 p.m.

“So many of these events recently have taken place around 7-8 p.m., and then they really start to gain momentum by 10 p.m. You can’t enforce the curfew when you’ve got 50 police officers and 500 teenagers. The numbers just don’t work,” Hopkins said.

He says he has more aldermen on board for his second attempt to change the curfew, and possibly expand it outside the central business district. So far, Mayor Brandon Johnson has resisted it.

“I haven’t really thought much about curfews to be honest with you. I think I spend more time thinking about how we actually can invest in young people, and create healthy spaces for them to be able to exercise their hearts desires and do it in a constructive way,” Johnson said.

CPS sent an email to parents at CPD’s request Thursday night, to warn parents not to let their children attend these events.

“I hope it works. I hope the letter has an effect. But if it doesn’t, we need an effective police response and that’s what my curfew ordinance would provide,” Hopkins said.

CPD also said in that email that it would try to diffuse situations before enforcing curfew violations, but if children do not comply they may be arrested.