Gatherings remain calm in Chicago after release of Memphis police video as Mayor Lightfoot, police superintendent urge protesters to remain peaceful

Small gatherings around the city remained peaceful Friday night after the release of video depicting Memphis officers’ fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police Superintendent David Brown had urged protestors to remain calm.

Community groups had announced plans for vigils and rallies around Chicago Friday evening. Gatherings in front of Chicago Police Headquarters and in Plaza Tenochtitlan in Pilsen garnered about 10 to 20 people each but didn’t last too long with freezing temperatures and gusty winds. No incidents related to protests were reported as of 10 p.m. Friday.

Lightfoot said Friday after the video was released everyone who is “rightfully calling for justice” should express themselves peacefully and “channel those emotions into working together and ensuring that as a nation, we continue to hold our law enforcement officers to the highest standards of ethical, professional and constitutional policing.”

“As a Black mother, I can only imagine the pain, grief, and frustration that is consuming the family of Tyre Nichols and the entire Memphis community,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “Make no mistake: what happened to Tyre was a horrific, unconscionable, and preventable act of violence carried out by those sworn to serve and protect. As we know all too well, tragic incidents like these not only send ripples of anguish across our country, but further erode trust between law enforcement and communities — especially those that are Black and Brown.”

Lightfoot acknowledged ahead of the release that the footage would “be really tough videos for people to watch, and people are going to have a lot of emotional reaction to them. But I hope that emotional reaction doesn’t lead to destruction of property, acts of violence, or other things that frankly undermine, I think, the strength of our city.”

Five officers have been charged with murder in Nichols’ death.

[ Memphis authorities release video in Tyre Nichols’ death ]

Brown said in a statement Friday night “my deepest condolences are with Tyre’s loved ones,” as he reminded everyone seeing the video footage that “there is a grieving family continuing to mourn the loss of a young father, son and brother.”

“I know that this video is extremely difficult to watch and brings up many emotions, but I ask everyone to honor Tyre and his family by expressing these emotions peacefully and safely as these former Memphis Police Department officers are being held accountable in the criminal justice system,” Brown said in the statement.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference Friday afternoon prior to the video’s release, Lightfoot urged peaceful protest, but said the city was prepared and “had activated security plans while we see this thing play out,” and that officials had done “extensive outreach to civil rights leaders across our city, faith community leaders, business community leaders, since we understood that video was going to be released” in preparation for possible protest.

“We learned a lot from” the violence that followed peaceful protests of the death of George Floyd, Lightfoot said.

Chicago’s commercial corridors were rocked in the summer of 2020 when peaceful demonstrations escalated twice, testing Lightfoot’s administration, Chicago police resources, and the relationship between the mayor and the Cook County State’s Attorney. The first was between May 30 and June 2, with widespread reports of looting, smashed windows and ransacked stores. The Illinois National Guard was called in to reinforce the Chicago Police Departments, and access to the Loop was limited. Again in August, following the police shooting of a suspected criminal in Englewood, hundreds swept through the Magnificent Mile and other parts of downtown Chicago again looting stores and smashing windows. 13 officers were injured, and two people were shot.

The city’s response drew criticism in an inspector general’s report.

“We have no actual intelligence that anything untoward is going to happen here,” but said monitoring would continue.

“Would I have liked that Memphis released these videos during the daylight hours and not on a Friday? You bet,” she continued. Officials released the footage at 6 p.m. Central. “I’ve had conversations with lots of mayors across the country this week that are also feeling the anxiety. But number one is we must express ourselves peacefully. That’s what we do to honor the legacy of Mr. Nichols.”