DISRUPTION

Protesters Plan to Shut Down Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Labor Day

They're protesting violence and lack of opportunities on Chicago’s South and West sides.

Protesters plan to shut down Chicago’s O’Hare airport on Labor Day in hopes of causing major disruptions at the nation's second largest airport to highlight violence and lack of education and employment opportunities on the city’s South and West sides. Planned by a Coalition for a New Chicago, the group will try to shutdown portions of the highway that leads in and out of the airport. “We must end Chicago's tale of two cities,” said Rev. Gregory Livingston, a West Side pastor who is leading the coalition. “We will shut down O'Hare International Airport.” If the protest is successful, it would be a major disruption for travel at the end of the holiday weekend. Livingston's demands include the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and converting closed schools into businesses, as well as more investment into the South and West sides. Authorities will not allow the protesters to block traffic said Illinois State Police spokesman Maj. David Byrd. “We are prepared for all contingencies,” he added. Chicago had 1,400 murders and 6,200 shootings in 2016 and 2017. The murder count from January through August of this year was 368, a 20 percent drop from last year, police said.