Mayor Rahm Emanuel wanted none of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s post-Dan Ryan protest tweets.
Rauner had tweeted that he was “disappointed” in the mayor for the “chaos” after protesters pressured Illinois State Police into closing all inbound lanes for their anti-violence march.
I’m disappointed in the Mayor. There was an agreement in place. I am calling on the Mayor to take swift and decisive action to put an end to this kind of chaos. I will work with him in good faith and urge him to do his job so that the people of Chicago feel safe.
— Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) July 7, 2018
Emanuel went to Twitter to give the governor some advice regarding social media:
It was a peaceful protest. Delete your account. https://t.co/QoKyIHmuQj
— Archive: Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@MayorRahm) July 7, 2018
A spokesman followed up with a statement after Emanuel’s tweet.
“The mayor’s hope is that today’s march may make someone realize they shouldn’t pick up a gun to settle a dispute, and if that happens the peaceful march the governor called ‘chaos’ will unquestionably be worth it,” Emanuel spokesman Matt McGrath said in an email.
Twenty-five minutes later, Rauner sent another tweet commending officers for a “great piece of community police work.”
Great piece of community police work today by ISP and CPD. Despite the disruption and traffic chaos, they made sure marchers and drivers were safe. Thanks to officers from both forces.
— Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) July 7, 2018
The Saturday afternoon protest was planned to call attention to heartbreaking gun violence that has affected parts of the South and West sides of the city.
An attempt to keep half of the Dan Ryan open to traffic fell apart as protesters demanded the inbound expressway be shut down.
Illinois State Police officials relented and agreed to close off all inbound traffic for about an hour — a decision that enraged Rauner.
St. Sabina pastor Michael Pfleger chided Rauner earlier in the morning after the governor’s office released a statement saying organizers had agreed to stay on the shoulder of the expressway.
I'm told that Gov. Rauner put out a statement that we had come to an agreement that we would walk on the shoulder of the road....that Mr. GOVERNOR is a LIE...No AGREEMENT HAS BEEN MADE
— Fr. Michael Pfleger (@MichaelPfleger) July 7, 2018
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