(CHICAGO) — A contingent of 23 Chicago Alderman have written to the police superintendent and the city’s corporation counsel asking for a review of security at city council meetings. The letter comes after the assassination of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk.
The aldermen request an evaluation of the city council safety protocols by both the police department and Department of Law. They want those departments
to craft, implement and enforce “common sense safety procedures.”
The letter reads as follows:
September 11, 2025
Larry Snelling, Superintendent
Chicago Police Department
City of Chicago
3510 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60653
Mary Richardson-Lowry
Corporation Counsel
City of Chicago
121 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Re: City Council Safety & Security against Radicalized Politics
Superintendent Snelling & Corporation Counsel Richardson-Lowry:
Yesterday our country witnessed a horrific political assassination in a public
space. The sphere of public discourse has become poisoned with toxic levels of
political acrimony not seen in generations. This toxicity is not unique to national
conversations, but local discussions as well.
Over the last eighteen months, the Council Chamber has seen many rancorous
meetings, City Council members needing escorts out of the building, and
protective services because of the subjects discussed and votes taken. Local
ward offices have found themselves vandalized with graffiti, guillotine stickers,
and more. City Council has long been an open, accessible body to the residents
of the City of Chicago; however, we must not leave its members’ safety to chance.
We therefore request an evaluation of our City Council safety protocols by both
the Police Department and Department of Law. We believe both departments
should craft, implement and enforce common sense safety procedures in
Council Security coordination with the City Council’s Sergeant-at-Arms and his team. These
security procedures must be consistent and universal in their application
regardless of politics. Additionally, we ask for a review of all City Hall accessibility
measures and exceptions allowed to those measures, such as the ability of
mayoral & aldermanic staff to bypass security measures with guests.
We look forward to your responses on this matter.
On behalf of the City of Chicago,
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward
Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward
Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th Ward
Ald. Peter Chico, 10th Ward
Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th Ward
Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward
Ald. Stephanie Coleman, 16th Ward
Ald. Derrick Curtis, 18th Ward
Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd Ward
Ald. Silvana Tabares, 23rd Ward
Ald. Monique Scott, 24th Ward
Ald. Chris Taliaferro, 29th Ward
Ald. Felix Cardona, 31st Ward
Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd Ward
Ald. Bill Conway, 34th Ward
Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward
Ald. Nicholas Sposato, 38th Ward
Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th Ward
Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st Ward
Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd Ward
Ald. Bennett Lawson, 44th Ward
Ald. James Gardiner, 45th Ward
Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th Ward
Cc: Ald. Michelle Harris, Chair
Committee on Committees & Rules
Alvin Starks
City Council Sergeant-at-Arms
