A contrast of law and order comparing Cook County, Illinois to Polk County, Florida. On June 1, 2020 Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told rioters and looters not to take their criminal conduct into the neighborhoods of Polk County.
“I would tell [rioters] if you value your life you probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County. Because the people in Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded. And if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.”
On Thursday June 4, 2020, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters that it’s “absolutely not appropriate for people to take up arms, bats, pipes, whatever in patrolling neighborhoods.” Lightfoot added, “I absolutely support neighbors being vigilant as to what’s going on on their streets and in their blocks, but taking up arms, that leads to chaos, and we’re not supporting vigilantism in the city of Chicago under any circumstances.”
Witnesses in Bridgeport claimed that residents reported that police officers on the scene did not intervene with protesters or neighborhood defenders, and even chatted with some defender members armed with makeshift weapons like bike locks and table legs and allegedly menacing people in the area. The group began to congregate as a protest was being held at the Chicago Police Department’s headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave.
Profanity-laced call involving Chicago mayor leaked after Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alderman Raymond Lopez clashed over rioting and looting in neighborhoods during a teleconference involving 50 alderman on May 31, 2020.