Shocking video shows massive Chicago house party during coronavirus lockdown
In a shocking display of contempt for social-distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic, dozens of young adults packed a house party in Chicago — where one person was heard saying, “You can’t even move in this b—-!”
The throng captured in a Facebook video posted by Windy City resident Tink Purcell is seen openly flouting guidelines that call for people to remain at least 6 feet apart to keep the virus from spreading, WTTW reported.
The more than 23-minute clip captured some of the rogue revelers wearing Chicago sports paraphernalia.
Some are also seen wearing masks in the tight quarters as the person recording the footage boasts that 800 people are watching it on Facebook Live.
At one point, a woman is seen shaking her butt for the camera.
On Sunday, Purcell posted on Facebook: “I had my mask and sanitizer I was good.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot slammed the Saturday night bash in a tweet as “reckless and utterly unacceptable.”
“I have seen the video which shows what appears to be a house party taking place inside a Chicago residence,” she wrote.
“While most Chicagoans are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reckless actions like these threaten our public health and risk erasing the progress we have made. We will hold those responsible accountable,” Lightfoot continued.
“The fewer people who comply with the ‘Stay At Home’ Order, the sicker our residents will get and the harder it will be for us to recover,” she added.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday that all of the party-goers had violated not only the trust of his executive order to remain at home, but also “the trust of their friends and family,” according to WTTW.
Police said they were aware of the footage circulating on social media.
“While we cannot authenticate the nature or location of the gathering, we want to remind everyone of the social distancing requirements in place,” police spokesman Luis Agostini wrote on Twitter.
“CPD will disperse crowds in violation of social distancing requirements, and if necessary, issue citations or as a last resort, enforce via arrest,” he added.
On Sunday afternoon, Pritzker said he had not seen the lengthy clip, but that he was aware of it.
“You’re literally putting everyone around you in danger. You are. They are putting you in danger. And, very importantly, all of those people are putting their families and their friends who are not there with them in danger,” he said.
Police have the authority to enforce Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, but he said he hopes to rely mostly on self-enforcement.
“If they refuse and if they repeatedly refuse, there is the ability by the police officers to charge them with reckless conduct and take them into custody,” he said.
“Though again we have discouraged police from doing that because we believe that people will in general follow the rules.
via: https://nypost.com/2020/04/27/video-shows-massive-chicago-house-party-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/
Photo Credit: sun.co.uk