The village of Oak Park imposed an overnight curfew early Sunday evening that begins at 9 p.m. and continues until 6 a.m., Monday. Those hours match the curfew in Chicago.
The curfew was announced by Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb and followed “minor criminal damage” to three Oak Park businesses on Sunday. Broken windows – but not looting – were reported at Dream Town shoes store at 4 Madison St., Oak Park Jewelers at 101 S. Marion St. and at Spenga Yoga and MedMen marijuana dispensary at 1132 Lake St., said Commander Dave Jacobson of the Oak Park police department.
According to the announcement, “the curfew order came after vandals targeted several local businesses. Residents are urged to stay home during the curfew, a measure intended to help ensure public safety.”
A previous announcement issued earlier May 31 directed Oak Park businesses operators to “remain vigilant as Oak Park, Chicago and other nearby communities have reported vandalism spurred by protests of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis” and to prepare to close their businesses should they feel it necessary.
Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, Police Chief LaDon Reynolds and Deputy Chief Joe Moran issued a shared statement earlier Sunday in response to the death of the George Floyd, who was murdered May 25 while in the custody of white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin and three fellow officers at the scene were immediately fired. Chauvin now faces third-degree murder and manslaughter charges.
“We denounce and condemn the actions of this officer who has since been fired and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter,” the joint statement reads.
“The Oak Park Police Department rejects racism and discrimination in all its forms. The men and women who serve our community as sworn officers believe in building trust and strong relationships with our citizens and endorse the values of community policing. We also strive for ever increasing the diversity of our department.”
The statement also said the village was ready to support a public discussion on making village policing more equitable; “We also must have procedural justice, transparency, accountability and honest recognition of not only the present, but the past as well. Additional tools are needed. And to that end, we pledge to support a public discussion about police training, policies and technology such as body cameras to determine the best ways to improve how we serve the Oak Park community.”
According to the statement, Reynolds has adopted the “Ten Shared Principles” established in 2018 by Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois NAACP State Conference, which is the first document of its kind supported by a statewide civil rights organization and a statewide law enforcement association.
Oak Park leadership concluded the joint statement with a pledge of commitment to “working every day in support of diversity, equity and inclusion. With the participation of the community, we are confident in a shared success that will become a part of Oak Park’s legacy of leadership.”
The statement in full is available on the village of Oak Park website.
Around 3 p.m., May 31, Oak Park police blocked off Chicago Avenue at Austin Blvd. at the request of the Chicago Police Department with a goal of preventing people from entering the city of Chicago, according to Commander Jacobson.
Chicago Avenue will be closed until further notice.
Mass displays protesting Floyd’s death have spread throughout the nation – with teargassing, looting and rioting accompanying the protests. Multiple businesses along Madison, Chicago and Cicero Avenues in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood were the victims of looting and vandalism Sunday afternoon.
This is a developing story.
Story has been updated with information on damaged businesses.
