CHICAGO (CBS) — The next few days will be filled with people enjoying themselves holiday festivities over Thanksgiving weekend– but the question remains whether they feel safe amid the recent violence in downtown Chicago.
It was cold outside on Wednesday night, but thousands were already walking the streets of Chicago to get out for the holidays.
“Chicago has a vibrant downtown, and we see that everywhere, in terms of people eating and shopping here and enjoying the start of the holidays,” said Ald. Bill Conway (34th), “and I just love that.”
Final touches were being made on State Street Wednesday evening as the city prepared for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, for which bleachers will be set up along the main drag.
Conway said safety comes first at such events.
“Obviously we have a lot of events downtown, and we really need to make sure that police have the right staff and resources to make sure we can keep people safe downtown,” he said.
Last Friday, teenagers caused disruptions in the Loop following the Christmas tree lighting in Millennium Park. Saturday, a 19-year-old woman was shot just outside the Macy’s flagship store at 111 N. State St. – the gunfire sent people ducking behind concrete barriers at Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza and running for cover outside the CBS Chicago Broadcast Center.
“Sometimes it keeps us from coming here,” Amiyah Ford of Forest Park said of downtown and the crime.
But while Ford remains aware of the crime, she also uses a different method.
“Pray before you go out and also before you leave the house,” Ford said.
Mary Williams of Berwyn and her daughter Nola were also downtown Wednesday evening.
“We’re just aware of our surroundings and come at a set time of day,” Williams said.
They weren’t going to let last weekend’s violence keep them from enjoying their decade-long holiday tradition.
“Every year we go to Macy’s, eat at the Walnut Room, see Santa, and then we walk to Christkindlmarket and hang out there for a while,” says 16-year-old Nola.
Ald. Conway wants people to come out and enjoy the Christmas spirit as he works with police in the Centra1 (1st) District, which includes the Loop.
“As far as this weekend, I am confident that law enforcement will have the resources they need to ensure that we can keep people safe,” Conway said.
Chicago police said they will be present and visible during the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other holidays.
