Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot proposes a Victims' Justice Ordinance that would allow the city to sue gang members for up to $10,000 in civil court and seize their property
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is taking a new approach to combatting gang violence by proposing a new Victims' Justice Ordinance that would allow the city to sue gang members in civil court and seize their property.
The ordinance, which would hold gangs accountable by suing members for the damage they inflict and allow authorities to size their property, is the latest effort from the mayor to tame the out of control violence in the city that is overrun by gangs.
Lightfoot introduced the ordinance on Tuesday and Chicago police leaders said they supported the measure that could allow judges or court officers to impose up to $10,000 fines per offence and seize 'any property that is directly or indirectly used or intended for use in any manner to facilitate street gang-related activity,' the Chicago Tribune reported.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured) proposed a new 'Victims' Justice Ordinance' that would allow the city to sue gang members in civil court and seize their property
Just this weekend, at least 64 people were shot, including several children, and nine people were killed, the Chicago Sun Times reported
'What we are proposing is a tool in civil courts that gives us the opportunity to go after those gangs that are wreaking havoc and in particular, take away the profit motive from them by seizing assets that they have been able to purchase because of their violent activity in our neighborhoods,' Lightfoot said.
But while Chicago police have shown support for the ordinance, it has faced backlash from civil rights attorneys and social justice organizations who say the measure could lead to Black and Latino residents of being wrongly accused of being involved in gang activity, the Tribune reported.
'Most folks can't afford a lawyer, for example, to represent them in these cases, so they have to go it alone in trying to get their assets back.' Angela Inzano, with the ACLU told WGNTV.com
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's new measure comes as Chicago crime rates continue to skyrocket
But Lightfoot is adamant the only people targeted will be those directly involved in gang activity and it would not go after 'guys on the corner' or small players, the Tribune reported.
'To be very blunt and clear, we are going after their blood money,' Lightfoot said.
The measure comes as Chicago crime rates continue to skyrocket.
Just this weekend, at least 64 people were shot, including several children, and nine people were killed, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
A shocking statistic showed that more children have have been shot in Chicago this year than the number of kids who have died of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
A total of 214 children, under the age of 17, have died from the virus while a total of 261 have been shot in the liberal city this year alone, according to data from police and the Center for Disease Control. Of those 261 minors who were shot, 41 were fatally wounded.
In July, President Joe Biden met with Lightfoot following a particularly violent July Fourth weekend, where 100 people were shot.
Biden had just recently introduced several proposals the month prior, in an effort to fight gun crime in major cities nationwide, specifically illegal guns with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
No comments