Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’ll veto a new ordinance that gives police expanded authority to break up gatherings of youth in Chicago (Photo Credit: Lanette Warbington).
Mayor Brandon Johnson says he will veto a newly passed ordinance that would expand police powers to break up gatherings of young people, calling it a threat to civil rights.
“Offering up police power, extended police power without any check or balance has not bode well for Black people and brown people in this country,” Johnson said after Wednesday’s 27-22 City Council vote in favor of the ordinance.
City Council vote on new “snap” curfew ordinance (Photo Credit: Lanette Warbington).
Introduced by Ald. Brian Hopkins, the measure allows Police Superintendent Larry Snelling—if the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety agrees—to declare any group of 20 or more people as a threat if there’s “probable cause” they might be involved in criminal activity. Police could then order the group to disperse within 30 minutes.
Critics say the ordinance is vague, unconstitutional, and will unfairly target Black youth. They argue that 30 minutes isn’t enough time for teens to comply or for their parents or guardians to intervene.
“Giving authority to a department that historically has not had the best interest in Black kids in its place is not something that I want to sign up for,” said Ald. Jason Ervin (28th).
Ald. Jason Ervin (Photo Credit: Lanette Warbington).
There are also concerns about how the curfew would be communicated—especially to teens and families who don’t speak English fluently.
“You’re a young person, and you’ve come to Streeterville to go to the movies, and you’re inside the movie, and you come outside and there’s a curfew in place, and now suddenly you’re having police interaction and being subject to arrest,” said Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois in a phone interview with The Chicago Defender in May. “That is a likely and probable scenario.”
Civil rights groups also say the ordinance sets no clear time limits or boundaries. A letter from a coalition of organizations warned the rule could be misused.
“Based on the proposal as written,” the letter states, “the CPD Superintendent could declare the entire Chicago lakefront to be a curfew zone for all summer months, prohibiting more than 20 young people to assemble at the beach due to the likelihood of a ‘mass gathering’ event.”
Chicago City Council Meeting, June 18, 2025 (Photo Credit: Lanette Warbington).
“Given the lack of reasonable guardrails, this hasty and ill-considered proposal must be rejected,” they wrote.
Mayor Johnson’s veto, if it holds, would prevent the ordinance from becoming law—unless 34 council members vote to override it.
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