CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lightfoot says the city is preparing for possible problems, and possibly unrest tied to next Tuesday’s elections.
In Pullman for an Amazon event, Mayor Lightfoot was asked what kind of preparations the city was making in case there was unrest after the election results are known. She said officials have two concerns: "Number one, election integrity and making sure people who are going to vote can do so free of fear, free of any kind of obstruction."
Then the Mayor recalled that there were spontaneous demonstrations four years ago for that election, but those protests were peaceful.
"Given what we have experience, however, this year, we hope they are peaceful. We are encouraging that if that happens that they are peaceful, but we are going to be prepared for any eventuality," Lightfoot said.
Related
And she said city departments put on a drill to test readiness for just about anything.
"If you took what we did to a Hollywood producer, they would say 'no, no, no, no one will believe that.' We threw everything in the kitchen sink - weather hazard, a biohazard, arsons to boxes for mail - every conceivable thing that we have seen happen across the country, and then a few more to make sure that we would be ready for any eventuality."
The Mayor said authorities will also be on guard against any Election Day intimidations or obstructions.