Chicago hits historic levels of violence during Labor Day weekend

World Today

Chicago hits historic levels of violence during Labor Day weekend

The city of Chicago reached a dubious milestone over the Labor Day holiday that no one wants to celebrate and many want to fix. The number of people murdered this year in Chicago reached 500. 

CCTV America’s Roza Kazan reports. Follow Roza Kazan on Twitter @rozakazancctv

The third largest city in the United States is on edge – Chicago experienced its bloodiest holiday weekend this summer. Dozens shot, 13 dead in a city experiencing historic levels of violence.Victims included an 80-year-old retired preacher, shot in the face, and a woman nine months pregnant.

Police attribute much of the recent increase to retaliating gang members. Gun violence has now risen to levels not seen in more than two decades. In August alone, 90 people were shot to death, on average three a day. 

According to data collected by the Chicago Tribune, the number of shootings this year has already approached last year’s entire total of 2,988, higher than the bigger cities of New York and Los Angeles combined. 

The Chicago Police Department faces protests and intense scrutiny over accusations of police brutality and racism. Officials say the historic violence is not a police issue but is driven by societal ills and repeat gun offenders. 

Chicago’s bloodshed has also been pushed into the national spotlight through repeated mentions by the Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. In the city, a recent survey found residents think Chicago’s children are as likely to become victims of violent crime as graduates from college.