Chicago will soon be in the national spotlight when it hosts the Democratic National Convention in August, but primarily in the glitzed-up area’s leaders want to be seen.
The city is facing a few complications: its stubborn problem with violence, the “wild card” of left-wing anti-Israel agitators, worn-down infrastructure, and the specter of the infamous clashes when Chicago hosted the DNC back in 1968.
Street and walkway upgrades are already underway. And according to a law enforcement source, the plan is to isolate the convention area from the rest of the city entirely, with access only for the media, law enforcement and DNC designees.
“We are going to basically never see a protester or rioters, period,” the source said. “The convention sites are completely cordoned off. There will be nobody that is not authorized.”
Authorities are imposing strict measures on people who live and work inside the secure zone as well, including vehicle checks, FOX 32 Chicago reported Wednesday.
The city already has a 10 p.m. youth curfew for the summer, and some leaders are looking to move the start time to 8 p.m.
