Samaritan who saved couple battered by mob during 'Teen Takeover' calls out mayor Lori Lightfoot
Category: News & Politics
Via: vic-eldred • last year • 35 commentsBy: Christian Oliver (Mail Online)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A Chicago woman who risked her own life to save a couple from a violent mob during Sunday's 'Teen Takeover' has hit out at Mayor Lori Lightfoot for 'sugar coating' the 'mayhem'.
Lenora Dennis was hailed as a hero after she was identified as the woman who stepped in to save a couple from a brutal attack during the weekend's 'teen riots'.
Dennis, who witnessed the attacks for herself, has since rebuked Mayor Lightfoot's 'sugar coating' of the events.
This came after outgoing Mayor Lightfoot attempted to dismiss the out-of-control riots, telling a local reporter that calling the scene 'mayhem' was incorrect, and that most people were downtown 'because there was great weather and it was an opportunity to enjoy the city'.
The shocking scenes saw an uncontrolled mob of teenagers torch downtown Chicago,leading to at least two shootings and more than a dozen arrests.
Lenora Dennis was hailed as a hero after she was identified as the woman who stepped in to save a couple from a brutal attackMayor Lightfoot attempted to dismiss the out-of-control riots, telling a local reporter that calling the scene 'mayhem' was incorrect. She is pictured at the National Action Network Convention, New York, April 13, 2023
'I'm sorry, Lightfoot. I voted for you, but I can't be involved in any level of sugarcoating what I saw,' Dennis told Fox News. 'That was mayhem.'
She also told the publication that she felt obliged to intervene as she feared the young woman would be killed.
'It was just something that I had to do because I couldn't accept that.'
The horrifying attack came as droves of young rioters descended on downtown Chicago, causing widespread mayhem and looting.
Footage from the evening of chaos saw teenagers smashing a bus, while others erupted into a mass brawl around Millennium Park.
Multiple gunshots rang out across the Windy City, and three teens were shot in two separate incidents amid the carnage. In total, 16 people were arrested following the weekend of mayhem, while the riots also saw numerous vehicles seized and torched on the streets.
Despite this, Mayor Lightfoot defended the teens, telling local reporters: 'The mass majority of the young people who came downtown, came downtown because there was great weather and it was an opportunity to enjoy the city. That's absolutely, entirely appropriate.
'There are a few that came with different intentions. They have and they will be dealt with. But I'm not going to use your language, which I think is wrong, to say there's 'mayhem'.'
Ahead of the widespread rioting over the weekend, law enforcement set up perimeters across downtown Chicago. Numerous cars were smashed or torched in the ugly scenes across downtown Chicago over the weekend. The Windy City descended into chaos as hordes of young agitators filled the streets. Police officers and ambulances are seen in the city centre. Chicago's Millennium Park was filled with a heavy police presence to combat the throng of teen rioters across the weekend. A Tesla was set on fire amid the carnage. Some 16 people have been arrested following the scenes. The riots led to 16 arrests and three shootings in two separate incidents as Chicago descended into chaos. The rowdy group torched cars and got into fights as gunshots rang out across the city. Police were pictured responding to the mayhem
Ashley Knutson and Devante Garrison-Johnson, victims in the attack, have since hailed Dennis as a hero and said the ordeal could have been much worse had she not stepped in.
Also speaking to Fox News earlier in the week, the two said the terrifying mob warned them 'they were going to kill us'.
The couple said they has come home after an evening out shopping, before 'everything went crazy', They described being crowded by rioters as Knutson was pushed to the ground.
Garrison-Johnson then confronted the attackers, the couple said, before they were quickly overrun.
The teen agitators beat the pair, stole their shoes, phones, a pair of sunglasses, an Apple Watch, and a hat.
'I have a black eye,' Garrison-Johnson added. 'My face is messed up. Shoulder is pretty f***** up too, it's out of place. My back is sore.'
Chicago's Democratic mayor-elect - who beat Lightfoot in February's election - said the city should not demonize the teens who organized the takeover.
Brandon Johnson, 47, said he does not 'condone the destructive activity' and that it's 'unacceptable and has no place' in Chicago, but that it should not be used as a way to vilify the group.
A young couple attacked by teen rioters in Chicago, Ashley Knutson and Devante Garrison-Johnson, revealed the mob threatened to 'kill' them. Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was recently voted out of office, defended the rioters and said she thought the term 'mayhem' was inaccurate. Chicago's Democratic mayor-elect, Brandon Johnson, said the city should not demonize the teens who organized the takeover
'However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities,' said Johnson.
Johnson is a former union organizer who has called for new taxes and more social programs in Chicago. He will take office on May 15.
Despite the outrage over the violence and destruction, Johnson said he thinks the only path forward is to 'work together' to give younger people safer spaces.
'Our city must work together to create spaces for youth to gather safely and responsibly, under adult guidance and supervision, to ensure that every part of our city remains welcome for both residents and visitors,' he said in a statement.
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Lenora Dennis is a hero.
You won't hear much about her in most of the msm. The Times and the Washington Post have become propaganda machines for the left's ignorant following. It was a strong woman that saved lives last weekend.
You continue to post inaccurate sensationalism, this time from a British newspaper known for it. What happened Friday and Saturday night was disturbing, but the garbage you keep posting completely overblows it.
This rioting occurred at or near a beach on Friday, which is where the Tesla was burned. As far as I can see from local news that was the only car that was set on fire over the weekend. The article you seeded makes it sound like the car was burned near Millenium Park, which is false.
What fucking nonsense. I know the area where the Saturday night 'riot' occurred very well. One could walk from one end of the 'riot' area to the other in no more than 5 minutes. It was a few blocks on Michigan Ave and somewhat on one block west (Wabash) which is where the two tourists were hurt and then another block over to State St near Madison where a Walgreens was descended on for mass shoplifting. These are not 'widespread' locations, and do not even remotely represent the whole of downtown, which is about 10 or 15 times larger than the area the fighting was going on in.
The incidents should be discussed, but by rational people. You are posting hysteria.
How can this be overblown? I think you are trying to downplay it.
One would think that any part of the downtown area would be the safest part of the city. And what of the topic here? Is this woman not a hero? What does that say about the dishonest msm that you don't criticize?
This is a map of downtown Chicago. The green line I placed around the map shows the boudaries of downtown (Roosevelt Rd. on the south , Oak St. on the north, the lake on the east and the Ryan/Kennedy expressway on the west. This area is roughly two miles from north to south and one mile from east to west. This is downtown Chicago. The area in the middle of the map that I filled in with solid green is where the riot took place. What kind of rational person would describe that as the entire downtown area? None.
Those intent on demonizing all Chicago!
Is that how you make a case? You search for some minor misstatement here or there? The Loop should be the safest part of the city at all times, day or night and weekends.
Thank you for the map. It conforms well to Frank Cullotta's desciption of Chicago's downtown. I knew there had to be a reason to watch all those episodes of "Coffee with Cullotta!"
Wait until I start on LA. That's next!
Knock yourself out eating Boston Beans!
America's greatest cities will survive you.
OMG! Does anyone eat them?
America's greatest cities will survive you.
They are only part of history now.
No, but rest in peace believing...whatever!
All my whole life Russian propaganda has predicted the end of American greatness.
Where did you get your bad information?
Is it bad? Here is where it came from:
“I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks” — this was before their fiscal crisis — “believe in Greek exceptionalism.”
Yes, your info is bad and wrongheaded...
Never heard of Frank Cullotta. I am just trying to bring you back to reality. If you want to post something about what happened, use the two Chicago papers as sources, not a sensationalistic British newspaper.
He was Tony Spilotro's best friend. Covid got him in 2020, but he did have a Youtube show in his final days:
I am just trying to bring you back to reality.
Reality seems to be subjective to the left.
If you want to post something about what happened, use the two Chicago papers as sources, not a sensationalistic British newspaper.
Facts should be the same in all newspapers. You had a riot this past weekend in Chicago, which should have been stopped by the CPD.
Why wasn't it?
What of this woman who stood up and probably saved two lives?
Just another "peaceful protest" in a shit hole city.
Just a continuation of the failure that has been Democrat policies.
That's a fair assessment.
Just a continuation of the failure that has been Democrat policies.
Some here would argue that nothing really happened
No they do NOT! But, some do dishonestly contend that this is all somehow unique to big cities and minority communities in blue cities and states while studiously avoiding the fact that gun violence and mass shootings happen pretty much every damn day in every corner of America!
How many guns were used last weekend in Chicago's loop?
There were three people shot but an unknown number of guns and shots fired. How many mass shootings so far in 2023?
Some would even be dumb enough to say it is justified.
Irrelevant to the topic. But then again, answering Vic's question would be an admittance at failed democrat policy so you chose to deflect.
How many involved should be demonized?
Mayor Lightfoot said that they should not ALL be, yet that seems to really upset you...
This wasn't a mass shooting. This was a mob ganging up on innocent people.
Last warning: mass shootings are off topic.
That is what Chicago's mayor-elect has been trying to say, but he won't openly say it. We may get people here to do it.
Three people were shot illustrating that gunfire now exceeds car accidents as the leading cause of death for American kids.
Is the topic your demonization of Chicago?
The topic is cleary the heroine featured therein.
As for Lightfoot's comment (one of many) she said some were there to enjoy themselves. One could argue that those seemed to be the people who were assaulted.
Keeping with the subject of the article - ALL OF THEM.
Mayor Lightfoot is a blithering idiot. And yet it seems you support her.
may get them? It's a matter of when they show up (one already has), not if they show up.
Sadly, you are correct
Lol. You might want to think that through.
That "mostly peaceful" defense falls woefully short yet again.
Do leftists never learn?
If only we passed some law making shooting others illegal!!!
Have you noticed that when a Democrat is trying to cover for riot in their districts or one they support it's a "peaceful protest" but when somebody else does it then it's an "insurrection", "riot" and a "threat to democracy"?
Yeah.
Taking over a whole city block or more, attacking police stations, creating traffic problems, rioting, looting, arson, destroying public and private property, all with acceptance by far too many on the left.