Rising crime in Pilsen sparks reunion among outraged community

CHICAGO – Neighbors seeking solutions to an outbreak of gun violence in Pilsen are pointing fingers at city leaders for help.

At Lincoln Methodist Church on the West Side of Chicago on Monday evening, many stood up and sat down to voice their safety concerns amid spikes in crime.

“We have the right to live in peace,” said Yadira Hernandez, the sister of a man who was shot dead as he parked his car on Friday (December 3rd). Michael Hernandez, 28, was scheduled to take the Chicago Police Department entrance exam. the next day. Chicago police commanders have reported latent disputes between rival gangs, suggesting Hernandez may have been mistaken for someone else.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th arrondissement) called Monday’s meeting. Recently, Sigcho-Lopez has drawn the ire of voters like Adrienne, who now live in the midst of a gang war, according to CPD sources.

“I love this neighborhood. I always wanted to live in this neighborhood, ”said the married mother of four, who declined to give her last name.

She and others believe Sigcho-Lopez is apparently more concerned with gentrification and funding the police movement than with fighting crime.

“I don’t want to leave this neighborhood, but if things don’t change and I don’t start to feel more secure, that might be the only option I have to leave,” she said. declared.

While Sigcho-Lopez declined an on-camera interview with WGN News, the alderman said Monday evening he recognized an increase in gun violence in his neighborhood and across the city.

“As a community, we cannot normalize the situation,” he said. “We have over 800 people who have died during this pandemic due to gun violence.

“We have to come together. This crisis affects us all.