Teen takeover organizers ask for more police

Why it matters: Chicago leaders have spent years searching for ways to curb violence at teen takeovers, weighing everything from curfews and parental fines to tougher enforcement and youth programming.

• The comments — calling for more police and even the National Guard at the events — offer an unusual perspective, especially from young people.

Driving the news: Two trend organizers, identified only as Darryl and Nunu, made the statements on the new "Victim or Villain" video podcast, launched by political consultant Sabha Abour.

• Abour met the pair in 2024 when she was chief of staff in the 4th Ward, where violent teen gatherings were occurring around 31st Street Beach.

What they're saying: Both organizers, who declined to provide their full names because of concerns over how officials will react, said violence has gotten out of control at the gatherings and argued for tougher enforcement against people who bring weapons or commit crimes.

• "Bring the National Guard out," Nunu said, noting that some teens "are running over police officers, and I don't feel like it should happen that way. Just come out and have fun, twerk, you know, dance. You don't have to fight. That's what I don't understand with our generation."
• "I agree with curfews because I'm actually on the side of CPD when they're showing up and shutting down the parties, because shutting them down might save lives," said Darryl, who stopped organizing takeovers.

The other side: Critics of tougher enforcement argue that teen takeovers have become a flash point in broader debates over race, policing and youth opportunity.

Friction point: While both organizers say kids need a safe space to meet up and socialize, it's unclear how the city can assist since city-led events can seem corny to teens.

Zoom out: Local teen takeovers have repeatedly drawn large crowds and led to shootings, deaths, and, most recently, cars running over police.

Hopkins tells Axios that he's heard similar comments about the need for more security from teens who go to the events, but "not the kids actually initiating the events."

• He says they echo requests for more cops from "middle-class working families across the South and West Side who disagree with the mayor's anti-police, anti-law enforcement philosophy.

• "It doesn't always get reflected in the media, but I think it's a popular sentiment among people who have to live with outbreaks of gun violence on their doorstep literally every day."

"Policing is a reactive strategy and Mayor Johnson is directing resources towards prevention and targeted enforcement," Johnson's press office tells Axios.

• We're "committed to ensuring that all young people—particularly those in communities that have historically faced disinvestment—have access to the resources, opportunities, and support necessary to succeed,"The mayor's office didn't respond to requests for comment on the matter."

What's next: Hopkins says he's continuing a three-pronged approach to address takeovers, which includes more teen opportunities, a new curfew proposal and a tweaked social media ordinance he's crafting with Ald. William Hall.

• In an interview with Axios this week, Nunu said he expects to see more teen trends in Chicago this summer and would not rule out organizing some himself.

What we're watching: Abour says she has more controversial Chicago guests lined up for her podcast, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Ald. Jim Gardiner and GOP lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar.