Anarchy is Chicago's new normal: Downtown businesses boarding up in anticipation of weekend looting

Magnificent Mile in June

Chicago's downtown and the adjacent Magnificent Mile have been struck twice by looting this summer. With two protests planned on North Michigan Avenue tomorrow afternoon--a pro-police march and a Black Lives Matter march--things might get ugly.

As for the latter, it can rightfully be called an anti-capitalism rally as its goal is to shut down the Mag Mile, which is Chicago's premier shopping area.

And businesses are preparing. By boarding themselves up ahead of the mayhem. Except of course those shops that are still boarded up from the last round of looting earlier in August.

From CBS Chicago:

Some stores were looted twice this summer and warn they won’t survive if that happens again.

CBS 2’s Jeremy Ross reports from the Loop with more on how stores are preparing.

The businesses, business organizations are all adamant: They welcome protesters. They welcome peaceful protesters, but when things like busted windows — stolen merchandise occurs

Shops around the Loop once again boarding up windows in advance of Saturday’s protest. Many are still boarded up from looting on August 10, like Paul Young Fine Jewelers.

About these businesses "welcoming protesters." These managers and business owners are either afraid to speak out or just rock dumb. The BLM march as you know has a goal to "shut down the Magnificent Mile." If the Mag Mile is shut down Saturday, which seems very likely, no one can buy things there.

Speak up! Get a back bone! Don't be wusses!

UPDATE 9:45PM CDT: A friend of the blog tells me that stores in the area will be closing early Saturday. Mission accomplished--for the anti-capitalists.