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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the 2024 DNC will go down in
history as an example of constitutional policing.
“These brave women and men showed the world how we can maintain
safety while protecting the people’s right to protest and to
have their voices heard,” Johnson said, adding that the
convention was the best the country has ever seen despite tens
of thousands of protesters descending on the city.
U.S. Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the
Chicago Field Office Derek Mayer thanked Chicago Police
Superintendent Larry Snelling.
“I’ve been in law enforcement 24 years. I’ve traveled the world,
and I’ve lived in cities all over the country. I’ve never seen
anyone better than you,” Mayer told Snelling.
Chicago anticipated as many as 100,000 protesters would arrive
during the DNC, and there were legitimate concerns that some of
the protests could break into violence based on incidents in
recent months around the country.
Snelling said there were 74 protest-related arrests during the
convention and some limited violence. A Texas delegate also was
robbed at gunpoint this week. The robbery took place at 2 a.m.
Wednesday outside the Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel.
Chicago’s police superintendent said detractors would not break
down the great work by his officers during the convention.
Snelling answered reporters who asked about traffic stops and
about a shooting at Guaranteed Rate Field that happened a year
ago.
“We can continue to talk about the past. We can continue to
throw stones. But right now, I’m living in the glow of the work
that these police officers did,” Snelling said.
Snelling said his men and women stood strong.
“They protected this city and they’re going to continue to do
it. And there’s not a traffic stop in the world that’s going to
change that,” Snelling stated.
Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt was also present at
Friday’s press conference.
Officials did not address reports of overcrowding at the United
Center Thursday night, which prevented some delegates from
entering the arena on the final night of the convention. Others
were not able to return to their seats after using the bathroom.
The Fire Department had tweeted Thursday night that it was
restricting access because the United Center was at capacity,
and that the department and the DNC were monitoring the
situation.
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