Jesse Jackson: Chicago looting ‘humiliating, embarrassing & morally wrong’

The Rev. Jesse Jackson condemned the looting reported in Chicago early Monday morning and warned that it should not be associated with the push for social justice. 

“This act of pillaging, robbing & looting in Chicago was humiliating, embarrassing &morally wrong. It must not be associated with our quest for social justice and equality,” Jackson tweeted. 

He added that the late civil rights icons Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr., and former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) “cry together in shame.” 

This act of pillaging, robbing & looting in Chicago was humiliating, embarrassing &morally wrong. It must not be associated with our quest for social justice and equality. #DrKing, #MedgarEvers & #JohnLewis, our martyrs, cry together in shame. #StopTheViolence #SaveTheChildren pic.twitter.com/UxTJYVq51l

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) August 10, 2020

Chicago police reported widespread looting and vandalism across Chicago early Monday. 

“This was not an organized protest, rather this was an incident of pure criminality. This was an act of violence against our police officers and against our city,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said at a briefing. 

He said shooting incidents and the looting overnight are “completely  unacceptable.” 

What happened overnight was an act of violence against this city. We will not tolerate these actions and we will hold those responsible accountable. pic.twitter.com/liaRoMIgUp

— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 10, 2020

The looting reportedly began shortly after midnight as people reportedly broke store windows and swept through stores on the city’s “Magnificent Mile” while confronting officers, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.