CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Mayor Brandon Johnson is rejecting suggestions that he moved migrants out of a police station because of the Lollapalooza music festival.
Johnson said, yes, migrants were moved out of the First District Police Station, closest to Grant Park, but it was not because of Lollapalooza.
“That’s an inaccurate depiction of what happened. No one was moved as a result of Lollapalooza. We are transitioning people into shelters. As a city, do we want people living in police stations? Is that acceptable? It’s not,” said Johnson.
The mayor said at his news conference Wednesday they were moved to the Broadway Armory, where there are also services.
“What I’ve always been saying is that police stations are not a place for people to live…We are going to continue to work hard to make sure that the dignity and humanity of individuals is respected,” Johnson said.
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He said migrants are being moved from other police stations too, with encouragement from them and their advocates.
Reporters asked how long the City can maintain the spending needed to care for the migrants. The mayor didn’t answer directly but said the City will need federal and state help.
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