Chicago mayor raises fence in park after shaming sunbathers on Twitter

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot publicly shamed sunbathers that filled up Montrose Beach over the weekend—but felt it was not necessary to tweet about the rampant looting and rioting taking place across the city she supposedly leads.

"It's called a pandemic, people. This reckless behavior on Montrose Beach is what will cause us to shut down the parks and lakefront," Lightfoot posted on Saturday. "Don't make us take steps backwards."

The photo, which shows dozens of peaceful sunbathers, lead to Lightfoot's decision to fence off where the bathers had gathered.

Park District Spokeswoman Michele Lemons told the Chicago Tribune: "The Chicago Park District installed fencing at Montrose Beach to deter large gatherings like those observed (Saturday). While the lakefront trail is open, Chicago's beaches and parkland east of Lake Shore Drive remain closed under the Chicago Department of Public Health's executive order."

While Lightfoot was quick to call out sunbathers, her comments on gatherings of protestors after the death of George Floyd were supportive.

The Chicago Police Superintendent told the Tribune that more than 100 people were arrested. Over a dozen officers were injured during the looting. One civilian and private security guard were also shot and wounded.

"What occurred in our downtown and surrounding communities was abject criminal behavior, pure and simple," Mayor Lightfoot said. "And there cannot be any excuse for it. Period."