A BLACK Lives Matter activist has justified the widespread looting in Chicago as “reparations” – and claimed it doesn't matter because the ransacked stores “have insurance.”
Speaking Monday at a rally outside the South Loop police station, Ariel Atkins said: “I don’t care if someone decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy’s or a Nike store, because that makes sure that person eats, that makes sure that person has clothes.”
“That is reparations,” Atkins added, according to NBC Chicago.
"Anything they wanted to take, they can take it because these businesses have insurance,” she said at the rally organized by Black Lives Matter Chicago.
Her statement came after a chaotic night that saw more than 100 arrests, 13 police officers injured and at least $60 million worth of property damage.
The unrest erupted after cops responded to a call on Sunday about a man with a gun in Englewood, who fired shots at them before being wounded and hospitalized.
A video posted on Facebook that evening incorrectly claimed that the cops fatally shot a 15-year-old boy, which led to hundreds of people protesting in downtown Chicago and then looting the Miracle Mile early on Monday.
However, the person shot was 20-year-old Latrell Allen, and he was charged with attempted murder on Monday.
At the rally, Atkins disagreed with the police officers’ conduct.
“Police say a lot of things,” Atkins said.
“Even though the Department of Justice said with the consent decree they are no longer allowed to chase people, they decided they were going to chase, and they shot this young man multiple times.”
Earlier on Monday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot warned that law enforcement officials were already looking through high-definition surveillance footage and that looters would face consequences.
“Let's be clear. We are coming for you. We are already at work finding you,” Lightfoot said.
“I don't care—I do not care—whatever justification was given for this. There is no justification for criminal behavior ever. You have no right to take and destroy the property of others.”
Lightfoot added that Chicago residents “deserve to be safe” and businesses deserve to “enjoy safety and security.”
But Black Lives Matter Chicago criticized Lightfoot in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“The mayor clearly has not learned anything since May, and she would be wise to understand that the people will keep rising up until the [Chicago Police Department] is abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in,” the statement read.
Black Lives Matter protests emerged across the country after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of black man George Floyd in late May, leading to his death.
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