Thread by @blmohr

#OperationLegend
"The coordinated law enforcement initiative drew mixed reviews from residents when it was first launched earlier this month in Kansas City to combat a “sudden surge of violent crime.”
chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/22/2133…

1/ "With tough federal sentencing rules, U.S. Attorney John Lausch said his message is shooters should “know that if they’re going to drive by a funeral home and shoot people there, that they’re likely going to face federal prosecution when we catch them.”
chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/22/2133…

2/ chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lo…

3/ “It’s like (Trump) is starting the fire and then saying, ‘I have the only fire extinguisher.’”
vanityfair.com/news/2020/07/t…

4/ Lightfoot defends calling FOP president a ‘clown,’ ‘cartoon character’ and ‘total fraud’
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020…

5/

https://twitter.com/CWBChicago/status/1286880857811087360?s=20

6/

https://twitter.com/samjcharles/status/1286363650752643072?s=20

7/ “I wanted to make sure we did it as quickly as possible, and we received some information that day that raised some very serious public safety concerns, and I didn’t want to wait,” Lightfoot said.

chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-ch…

8/ How the rioting started in Chicago over the Columbus statue. Start at 1:18 mark.

9/ It’s like these ppl dressed in all black w/ black umbrellas are part of some group or something. Duh...
startribune.com/police-umbrell…

10/

https://twitter.com/jmetr22b/status/1288516648748625920?s=20

11/ "The reputed leader of the Black Disciples street gang was among 23 people arrested in a FEDERAL gang takedown involving drug and weapons trafficking in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, records show."
chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-…

12/ "Among the others swept up in the probe was John Ector, owner of the South Side nightclub V-75, who was charged with bank fraud for allegedly helping the gang launder drug proceeds."

13/ "The 2-yr investigation also resulted in...alleged gang members charged w/ unlawfully trafficking handguns. Several other previously convicted felons are charged w/ unlawfully possessing firearms, including rifles & a shotgun furnished to members of the Black Disciples..."

14/ chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-ch…

15/ “...one of roughly 300 fed­eral agents now in Chicago to help lo­cal po­lice ramp up ef­forts to com­bat gun crime amid a sharp spike in vi­o­lence.”

wsj.com/articles/in-ch…

16/ “In Chicago, there have been 450 mur­ders in the city this year through Aug. 2, a 55% rise from the year-ear­lier pe­riod...”

17/ “In 2017, Ses­sions sent 12 fed­ pros­e­cu­tors & 20 ATF agents to Chicago where they...ex­ploited gun-trac­ing tech­ to link & solve shoot­ings. Those po­si­tions were per­ma­nent...most of the (new) agents sent to Chicago will re­turn to their as­sign­ments in...2 months.”

18/

https://twitter.com/BauerJournalism/status/1292806484884180992?s=20

19/

https://twitter.com/blmohr/status/1292802890378117120?s=20

20/ "Witnesses described the vandalism as a "coordinated effort" with multiple cars dropping off groups of people, who then smash-and-grab merchandise in the store, and take off running in opposite directions before police could respond."
abc7chicago.com/chicago-lootin…

21/ "Chicago police said they couldn’t provide information of how many officers are assigned to monitoring social media..."
wgntv.com/news/wgn-inves…

22/ “Members...voiced dissatisfaction during an online meeting that the city missed more than 70% of its deadlines in the first year under the consent decree, a broad court order calling for changes to the way the troubled police force treats people.”
chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-ch…

23/ chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/08/12/rep…

24/ Outside agitators.
“I think it just upsets them when they have a group of people who just walked into their community, with misinformation, and decide what the problem is in their community.”
chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/…

25/ “A number of those charged with felonies were parents, many of them unemployed during the pandemic...”
chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/…

26/ “Seven more people were in court Monday facing felony charges in connection to the looting spree that ravaged downtown and surrounding neighborhoods last week.”
chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/8/1…