Mayor Johnson attempted to redefine the meaning of “mob action” today in Chicago during a press conference. This was in response to Sunday evening’s mass looting and chaos. In the past, they have referred to some of these as “teen takeovers.”
Chicago police were finally allowed to do something and made 40 arrests, along with seizing three guns. The Chicago Police Department estimated there were between 300 and 400 people in the group. 37 of the arrest were minors, so not much can be done. It’s easy to see it was a “mob” of people “recklessly” disturbing the peace in the video.
In Mayor Brandon Johnson’s press conference, he criticized reporters for referring to it as a “mob action.”
“That’s not appropriate. We’re not talking about mob actions. I didn’t say that. What I’m… hold on a second, OK? Respectfully, these large gatherings (pause) these large gatherings, just… hold on a second you all, I promise you, we have time to talk. It’s important that we speak of these dynamics in an appropriate way. This is not to obfuscate what has taken place.” “There’s history in this city. I mean, to refer to children as like baby Al Capones is not appropriate.”
Imagine being lectured by a guy who thinks "mob action" has anything to do with Al Capone. pic.twitter.com/SX2cYNIIzm
— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) August 2, 2023
What is a “mob action”?
The Illinois Court website states: Definition Of Mob Action–Unlawful Assembly
“A person commits the offense of mob action when he [1] acting together with one or more persons and without authority of law [ (knowingly) (intentionally) (recklessly) ] disturbs the public peace by the use of force or violence.”
(720 ILCS 5/25-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 25-1) Sec. 25-1.
Mob action. (a) A person commits mob action when he or she engages in any of the following:
(1) the knowing or reckless use of force or violence disturbing the public peace by 2 or more persons acting together and without authority of law;
(2) the knowing assembly of 2 or more persons with the intent to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony or misdemeanor; or
(3) the knowing assembly of 2 or more persons, without authority of law, for the purpose of doing violence to the person or property of anyone supposed to have been guilty of a violation of the law, or for the purpose of exercising correctional powers or regulative powers over any person by violence.
He wants to refer to them as gatherings. Who wants to tell him that, under the legal definition, it was a mob action?