‘TEEN TAKEOVER’ MOBS MUST BE STOPPED
I want to thank the Naperville Police Department for protecting the downtown area this past week. After months of “teen takeovers” bringing chaos and danger to what is typically a safe and serene community, it seems the police were more aggressive in making arrests at the gathering downtown Monday and showing zero tolerance for crime and disorder.
But since these “takeovers” will likely persist through the summer, it is clear this is only the first step in stopping these mobs from coming back to our town to disrespect and endanger our community. Police need to double down on zero tolerance. Arrest anyone and everyone engaging in any level of criminal offense. Do not let anyone skirt the line or test our community’s boundaries.
To our officers: citizens want you to err on the side of making an arrest when one of these teens decides to play an ill-advised game of “how much can I get away with.” We need to make sure they regret playing stupid games by awarding them the prize of being placed in handcuffs.
We also need police to identify and arrest the online organizers of these “takeovers.” We need sting operations to unmask ringleaders and hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law — whatever it takes to bring accountability to those attacking our community and make the chaos stop.
For our part, Naperville locals witnessing these events should notify police of any and all unruly, disorderly conduct rather than letting it slide. Let’s make sure these teens know our community does not tolerate this behavior.
These are the next steps after Naperville police did their job this past week. Our proud, beautiful downtown Naperville is under attack, mostly from people outside our community. They come to try and intimidate us and claim our space as their playground of chaos and violence. They want to “take over” our town, and we simply can’t allow that.
Naperville belongs to families. It belongs to neighborly, law-abiding locals who want to experience our downtown without fear of being subjected to a barbaric mob. It does not belong to criminals and thugs. Let’s prove that the next time the mob decides to show up downtown.
Matt Teitelbaum, Naperville
NO PLACE IN POLITICS FOR VIOLENT RHETORIC
Recently Naperville City Councilwoman Mary Gibson shared a screenshot of a comment left in response to a social media video posted by the DuPage County Republicans. In response, a person reacting to her post called for “war” against Democrats and declaring “no survivors.”
As disheartened as we were to see the comment, we were appalled by the response that followed.
Rather than unequivocally condemning violent rhetoric directed at a local elected official, the DuPage County Republicans’ response largely attempted to justify or contextualize it by pointing to unrelated examples of political hostility and online incivility. Notably, none of the behavior being referenced was conduct modeled by Councilwoman Gibson herself, who has consistently carried herself with civility, professionalism and respect toward those with whom she disagrees.
There is a profound difference between rude political commentary and language that normalizes violence against other human beings. One should never be used to excuse the other.
When someone posts violent rhetoric directed at local officials on a page you control, the only acceptable response is immediate condemnation and removal of the comment; not deflection, finger-pointing or whataboutism.
No member of our community or public servant, regardless of political party, should have to wonder whether calls for violence against them will be treated as acceptable collateral damage in our political discourse.
We should all expect better from the organizations and leaders helping shape the tone of civic engagement in our community.
Dianne McGuire, Kate Refine, Barb Nemeth, Dan Bagley, Nancy Bagley and Paulette Goodman
Indivisible Naperville
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