[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ REPORTING LIVE IN CHICAGO'S CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> THE LARGEST BARRIER IS LANGUAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE NEXT STOP ON OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS CHECKS IN ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN CHINATOWN.

>> IT IS DEADLY.

>> A SOUTH SIDE HOSPITAL FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO PULL IN JOBS IT'S THAT SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> A GROUP OF PROTESTORS PROTEST GENERAL IRON OPENING ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE HEAR FROM OPPONENTS AND A COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE.

>> I WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE DISPLAY OF BANER INS DISPLAYING THE PROMINENT ITALIAN/AMERICAS.

>> MANDELA IN CHICAGO IT DELVES INTO THE CITY'S CONNECTION WITH THE ANTIAPARTHEID MOVEMENT.

AND GEOFFREY BAER ON THE HISTORY OF THE SCHWINN BICYCLE COMPANY IN CHICAGO IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> BUT FIRST, I'M IN CHINATOWN AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

THIS WAS THE FIRST COMMUNITY TO BE HIT WITH THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ESPECIALLY THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS AS WE ARE 11 MONTHS FROM THE INITIAL SHUTDOWN BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO COME BACK AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS FOLKS ARE FACING TO GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE AS THEY AWAIT CHINESE NEW YEAR, TONIGHT, YEAR OF THE OX IS COMING UP AND WE'LL HAVE THAT MORE IN A BIT, FIRST WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> LOOKING FORWARD 0 THAT.

THANK YOU.

TOP STORIES... IMPEACHMENT PROSECUTORS WRAP UP THEIR CASE IN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS ENDED THEIR FINAL DAY OF ARGUMENTS BY TELLING SENATORS THAT TRUMP SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HIS ACTTIONS WOULD LEAD TO VIOLENCE.

TRUMP'S LAWYERS WILL LAYOUT THEIR EVIDENCE WHY HE SHOULD NOT BE CONVICTED.

THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER SAYS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF TRUMP'S SECOND IMPEACHMENT WAS SETTLED AND TRUMP'S LAWYERS NOW HAVE THE TASK OF ARGUING THE CASE ON ITS MERITS.

>> OUR FRIENDS MUST WORK TO ANSWER ALL OF THE OVERWHELMING, DETAILED, SPECIFIC, FACTUAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE WE HAVE INTRODUCED OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLEAR AND OVERWHELMING GUILT IN INCITING VIOLENT INSURRECTION AGAINST THE UNION.

>> THE FIRST CASE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT OF COVID-19 IN ILLINOIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

ILLINOIS HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE A ROCK ISLAND RESIDENT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO HAVE THE VARIANT WHICH IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

THE STATE IT IS REPORTING 22 CASES OF THE U.K.

VARIANT.

MORE CASES OF VARIANTS ARE EXPECTED AND TO CONTINUE WEARING MASKS AND GET VACCINATED WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN.

HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2800 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 AND 102 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE STATE HAS NOW RECORDED 1.15 MILLION CASES AND 19,841 DEATHS.

SEVERAL THOUSAND PRESCHOOL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS RETURNED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS C.E.O.

JANICE JACKSON TOURED ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TO WELCOME STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK.

THE UNION AGREED TO A REOPENING DEAL WHICH WOULD RETURN K-8 STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOM IN PHASES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> I HAVE ONE STUDENT SHOWING ME HIS NEW SHOES A STUDENT WANTS TO SHOW OFF THAT HE COULD SPELL HIS NAME AND LITTLE THINGS WHEN YOU ADD IT UP SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

WE KNOW FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN C.P.S.

THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING TO THEIR CLASSROOMS.

AND I ALSO KNOW THAT OUR TEACHERS WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> PART OF THE DISTRICT'S REOPENING AGREEMENT WITH TEACHERS INCLUDED INSURING TEACHERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

JACKSON SAYS SO FAR THE VACCINE HAS BEEN OFFERED TO MORE THAN 8,000 C.P.S.

EMPLOYEES, 20% OF THE EMPLOYEE POPULATION.

>> CHICAGO'S OLDEST HOSPITAL HAS TAKEN A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS CLOSING EVEN AS A STATE BOARD FORBIDDEN IT FROM DOING SO.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST ON MERCY HOSPITAL.

>> MERCY IS MAKING GOOD ON ITS PROMISE IF IT CAN CALL IT THAT IT WOULD CLOSE ITS DOORS IN 2021.

MERCY OWNED BY TRINITY HEALTH FILED FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, MERCY'S LEADERS SAY IT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF CARE IS AN INCREASING CONCERN AS PHYSICIANS AND COLLEAGUES LEFT MERCY AND OPERATING LOSSES AXLE RATED TO $7 MILLION PER MONTH.

>> TRINITY IS PUTTING THE LIFE OF SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS IN DANGER.

BY CLOSING THIS HOSPITAL IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, AGAIN, KNOWING THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM DILIGENTLY, IN CONVERSATION, TO, AGAIN, GET AN ENTITY IN PLACE AND MAKE SURE THAT IS ENTITY IS SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUES TO MOVE THE FLAG POLE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LAMONT ROBINSON WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES MERCY IS AMONG THOSE FIGHTING TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.

ALDERWOMAN SOPHIA KING SAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT.

SHE SAYS MERCY IS THUMBING ITS NOSE AT OFFICIALS AND SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS.

>> THEY ARE A BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT ALREADY QUARTER ONE YOU KNOW, LOGGED IN $600 MILLION IN PROFITS NET.

AND YOU KNOW THEY HAVE FOUR OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE STATE.

THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY PROVIDES CHARITY CARE AND TAKES CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

>> MERCY DID NOT HAVE ANYONE AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT TOO MANY OF ITS BEDS ARE EMPTY.

ABOUT HALF OF THE HOSPITAL'S ACUTE CARE SPACE.

MERCY SAYS IT HAS PROVIDED ALL THE CARE IT COULD WHILE INCURRING LOSSES THAT NO ENTITY TO AFFORD TO TAKE ON ALONE.

I DID SPEAK WITH A NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO IS NOT SURPRISED BY MERCY'S BANKRUPTCY FILING.

>> WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH THAT ONCE A HOSPITAL OR SAFETY NET INSTITUTION IS THREATENED FORECLOSE THAT OFTENTIMES THOSE WHO ARE BEHIND THAT CLOSURE BEGIN TO DISINVEST IMMEDIATELY.

SO THE BANKRUPTCY IS WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM TRINITY.

>> YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE A SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY.

MERCY DISINVESTS LETTING GO OF STAFFS TO THE POINT THAT AMBULANCES CANNOT TAKE PATIENTS TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY MAKE IT SUCH THAT THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO SAVE.

BANKRUPTCY, THE BYPASS, OF THE ED, ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF HOW HOSPITALS MAKE IT SUCH THAT THERE'S NO CHOICE BUT TO CLOSE THEM.

>> THE CONSEQUENCES, SHE SAYS, WITHOUT EXAGGERATION CAN BE DEADLY.

AFTER THIS JITU BROWN WHO WAS BORN AT MERCY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO PREVENT THE HOSPITAL'S CLOSURES SINCE THE SUMMER.

HE SAYS IT IS TIME FOR GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER TO SERIOUSLY AND PERSONALLY INTERVENE.

>> MANUFACTURING INEQUITY.

SO WE NEED PEOPLE WHO PROCLAIM TO BE LEADERS TO IN THIS MOMENT LEAD.

BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM CORONAVIRUS, SHOULD NOT BE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE HOSPITAL SERVICES ARE CUT.

>> PRITZKER'S ADMINISTRATION HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT IN MERCY SAYING ITS LEADERS HAVE NOT DONE ALL THAT THEY COULD.

GETTING ANOTHER ENTITY TO TAKEOVER THE HOSPITAL IS AMONG THE VARIOUS ACTIONS THAT OFFICIALS AND ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING FOR.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A MORATORIUM ON HOSPITAL CLOSURES IN THE STATE PARTICULARLY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND ALSO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE PARTICULARLY NOW THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH COVID.

>> ALDERMAN KING SAYS IT'S GOT TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO COULD TAKEOVER, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEIR LEADERSHIP IS REALLY CAN'T BE TRUSTED RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WE'RE NOT CALLING FOR TRINITY TO STILL MANAGE MERCY.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MERCY CONTINUES TO OPERATE UNDER DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE IT THAT DESERVES.

>> AS THE STATE BOARD WITH OVERSIGHT OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS REJECTED OVER THE WINTER MERCY'S BID FOR APPROVAL TO SHUTDOWN.

MERCY IS SET TO AGAIN TRY FOR A STATE SIGN OFF ON CLOSURE AT A MEETING IN MID-MARCH.

BUT THIS BANKRUPTCY IT COULD BE A WAY AROUND THAT.

BACK TO YOU, BRANDIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> 11 MONTHS AGO, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ENTERED ITS FIRST FULL SHUTDOWN AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ON MARCH 23, "CHICAGO TONIGHT" VISITED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHOSE BUSINESSES WERE HIT BEFORE THE REST OF THE CITY, CHINATOWN.

WE FOUND A DESOLATE AND EMPTY INTERSECTION NORMALLY BUSTLING WITH RESTAURANTS, FOOT TRAFFIC AND STORES.

BUT WE FOUND LINES OF LIFE WHEN WE VISITED IN THE SUMMER.

TONIGHT PARIS SCHUTZ AND MARISSA NELSON STOPPED BY THE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE HOW IT'S PREPARING FOR A MARQUEE EVENT, THE CHINESE NEW YEAR PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS JOINS US FROM INSIDE THE CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE OUT OF THE COLD AND THINGS ARE SPRINGING BACK TO NORMAL IN CHINATOWN COMPARED TO MARCH 23.

THE SHUTDOWN HAD JUST BEGUN AND RESTAURANTS CLOSED, STORES CLOSED AND NO FOOT TRAFFIC ON WENTWORTH OR IN THE MALL HERE.

YOU HAD BUSINESS OWNERS WORRIED HOW THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE IT THE NEXT TWO-FOUR WEEKS AND IT WAS 11 MONTHS AND COUNTING.

INDOOR DINING IS BACK AT 25% CAPACITY.

YOU SAW FOOT TRAFFIC ON THE STREET AND YOU SEE THE DECORATIONS AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD EAGERLY ANTICIPATES CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND WELCOMES THE YEAR OF THE OX SUPPLANTING THE YEAR OF THE RAT.

THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE YEAR OF THE OX.

NORMALLY THERE WOULD BE A PARADE BUT DUE TO COVID CONCERNS THE EVENTS HAVE BEEN SCALED DOWN THIS YEAR.

>> ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE COME HERE BUT THIS YEAR THAT EVENT HAS TO CANCEL.

LAST SATURDAY WE HAD A BIG KICKOFF NEW YEAR RIGHT AT THE CORNER THERE.

ORGANIZED BY THE CHINATOWN SECURITY FOUNDATION AND THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

WE HAD A GOOD TIME LAST SATURDAY.

BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY OUTSIDE ACTIVITY THIS YEAR.

>> AND THE RETURN TO INDOOR DINING COMES THE A PERFECT TIME AS RESTAURANTS HOST SMALL NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS.

THE CHINATOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS THAT MOST SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STILL OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE PLEASED ABOUT THAT.

THOUGH RESTAURANTS HAVE DONE 20-30% OF THE NORMAL BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN.

HOW HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT?

PART IS PPP MONEY AND LOCAL LENDERS LIKE THE AMERICAN METRO BANK.

THAT BANK WORKED WITH CUSTOMERS TO RELAX THE TERMS OF CERTAIN LOANS AS THOSE CUSTOMERS FACED HARDSHIPS.

>> WE WORK WITH THE BORROWERS THE INDIVIDUAL AND ENTITY THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY.

AND WE HAVE GIVEN THEM EXTENDED TERMS AND DEFERRED PAYMENTS.

AND WORKED WITH THEM SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OWN THE PROPERTY AND NOT BE FACED WITH ANY KIND OF ACTION SUCH AS FORECLOSE AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> ONE BUSINESS GOING THROUGH THE ISSUES, TRIPLE CROWN RESTAURANT WE CHECKED WITH THEM IN MARCH AND AGAIN IN JUNE AND THE OWNER HAS HAD THE PLACE IN HIS FAMILY SINCE THE 1990s.

IN MARCH HE WAS WORKING WITH HIS LANDLORD TO CUT A DEAL TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE'VE BEEN IN CHINATOWN SINCE '92.

AND I'M THE SECOND GENERATION RESTAURATEUR AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE FAMILY BUSINESS GOING AND IT'S HARD WITH THE PANDEMIC HAPPENING AND SOMETHING NOBODY'S FACED BEFORE.

>> FAST FORWARD TO TODAY HE STILL OPERATING BUT THE STORY DOES NOT END WELL WITH THE LANDLORD.

THE LANDLORD IS ATTEMPTING TO EVICT BECAUSE SPENCER THOUGHT HE HAD A VERBAL AGREEMENT TO DEFER PAYMENTS WITH THIS COMPANY.

BUT NOW THE LANDLORD SAYS THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

AND THEY ARE SUING HIM TO EVICT HIM IN COURT.

SPENCER IS ON THE HOOK FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PAYMENTS.

>> THEY OFFERED TWO MONTHS FREE RENT, HALF RENT TO THE END OF DECEMBER OF 2020.

AND STARTING IN JANUARY 2021, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY FULL RENT BUT THE COST WOULD BE FOR ME TO SIGN OVER TRIPLE CROWN AS COLLATERAL.

WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

TRYING TO HOLD MY BRAND HOSTAGE.

>> THE LANDLORD HAS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT STORY IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THEY SAID QUOTE THE LANDLORD MADE EVERY EFFORT TO NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT BEFORE BRINGING SUIT BUT TRIPLE CROWN DID NOT MAKE A SINGLE BASE RENT PAYMENT SINCE APRIL OF 2020.

SPENCER DOESN'T KNOW IF HE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY BUT HE VOWS TO KEEP THE RESTAURANT GOING AND LOOKING AT OTHER SPACES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REOPEN.

THE OTHER ISSUES IN CHINATOWN, HAS BEEN ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

ACCESS TO TREATMENT FOR COVID-19 AND ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

AND THAT INCLUDES FOR MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THAT WORK IN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES AND LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THAT VACCINE.

>> A LOT OF GROCERY STORE WORKERS OR RESTAURANT WORKERS DO NOT HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.

SO THAT ALSO MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS VACCINES BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS WITH HOSPITALS WHERE FOLKS PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS ARE.

>> THE PROBLEM EXTENDS TO THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IN CHINATOWN.

MANY NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS.

SO THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET INFORMATION WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE AND WHERE THEY CAN GET IT.

THE CENTER A COMMUNITY SPACE HERE IN CHINATOWN THEY GOT AN ALLOTMENT.

OF 2 INR HUNDRED VACCINE -- 200 VACCINES.

>> A LOT OF SENIORS DON'T HAVE AN E-MAIL, DON'T HAVE A SMARTPHONE, DON'T HAVE INTERNET.

SO IT'S BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET REGISTERED.

SO WE'VE BEEN CONTACTING CHURCHES AND GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY TO REFER SENIORS TO US AND WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HELPING THEM REGISTER.

BUT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT EVERY COMMUNITY FACES BUT PROBABLY THOSE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE PROBABLY FACE THE MOST.

>> AND WE WILL BE BACK WITH THE AREA STATE REP TO TALK ABOUT THE RISE IN HATE CRIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND NOW WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PHIL PONCE FOR DETAILS BEHIND A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST A BUSINESS OPENING ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

PHIL?

>> BRANDIS FOR THE PAST WEEK THREE PROTESTORS HAVE BEEN ON A HUNGER STRIKE CALLING ON THE CITY TO DENY GENERAL IRON'S BID TO SHUTDOWN LINCOLN PARK OPERATIONS AND OPEN A NEW ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF EASTSIDE.

AND A FOURTH PERSON JOINED THE STRIKE.

ONE SAYS IT'S OVERBURDENED BY HEAVY INDUSTRY AND THAT THE CITY'S PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT.

>> THIS IS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE ARE WORKING 9-5 JOBS.

PEOPLE CAN BE IN SCHOOL ALSO THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PRESENTED IN MY BILINGUAL FORMAT THE LATINX COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION AS WELL.

>> AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF GENERAL IRON'S PARENT COMPANY RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP.

BUT FIRST WE ARE JOINED BY MELEAH GEERTSMA, SENIOR ATTORNEY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.

THE 10TH WARD ALDERMAN WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE PENDING LITIGATION AND THE CITY DID NOT HAVE ANYONE AVAILABLE.

MELEAH GEERTSMA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHY SHOULD GENERAL IRON BE PREVENTED FROM OPENING A NEW FACILITY ON THE OUT EASTSIDE?

>> AS YOU SAID IN THE OPENING THIS IS ABOUT DISPARITIES AND BURDENS AND BENEFITS ACROSS THE CITY.

THAT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE WE HAVE TO KEEP IF MIND.

THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE MORE POLLUTION AND ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO THAT POLLUTION THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING NO MORE.

THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BEAR THE BURDEN SO THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES PROSPER.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TOXINS AND THE HIGH RATES OF COVID-19 THAT THEY ARE SEEING WHILE LINCOLN PARK GETS TO DEVELOP LUXURY CONDOS AND HIGH TECH OFFICE SPACE.

>> AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW YESTERDAY 10TH WARMED ALDERMAN PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART... WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE ALDERMAN'S STATEMENT?

>> I THINK WE APPRECIATE HEARING THE ALDERWOMAN RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE REAL CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT ARE OVER ARCHING THIS PERMITTING PROCESS AND WE AGREE WITH HER THAT NO PERMIT SHOULD ISSUE WHILE THE CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING ON.

I WILL ADD THAT I ALSO THINK WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE GROUNDS TO DENY THE PERMIT IN ADDITION TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AS WELL.

BECAUSE OF THE PENDING PERMITTING ACTION I'M GOING TO LIMIT THE COMMENTS THAT I MAKE ON THOSE GROUNDS.

>> SOME SUPPORTERS OF THE FACILITY SAY THAT THE FACILITY WILL BE PAYING ABOVE MARKET RATES FOR MANUEL AND SKILLED POSITIONS AND THE AREA NEEDS JOBS.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THOSE ARGUMENTS ALSO THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL HAVE STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS?

>> SO I THINK THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND THE SAME COMPANY IS GOING TO BE RUNNING THE FACILITY AS WAS RUNNING THE LINCOLN PARK FACILITY AND THERE WAS A LONG HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT METALLIC FUMES, ABOUT TOXIC FLUFF ESCAPING FROM THE FACILITY.

ABOUT EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES.

AND EVEN UP UNTIL THIS PAST NOVEMBER THERE WAS A FIRE AT THAT FACILITY.

ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS THEY CAN SAY ALL THEY WANT ABOUT HOW WELL THEY ARE GOING TO RUN THIS FACILITY BUT THEIR HISTORY SHOWS WE CAN'T TRUST THOSE ASSERTIONS.

>> MELEAH GEERTSMA GO AHEAD.

>> IN TERMS OF THE JOB ISSUE, I WOULD SAY WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO ACCEPT TOXIC METALS IN EXCHANGE FOR JOBS?

OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING CLEANER JOBS.

THEY ARE GETTING OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK THAT DON'T ALSO POLLUTE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE SOUTHEAST SIDE IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT THE POLLUTION THAT COMES WITH THE JOBS.

>> MELEAH GEERTSMA MENTAL HEALTH THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW WE'RE JOINED BY RANDALL SANBORN A SPOKESMAN FOR RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP WHICH OWNS GENERAL IRON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND FIRST OF ALL LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HUNGER STRIKERS WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE REGRET THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE CHOSEN TO ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT WE BELIEVE IS UNWARRANTED UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND WE STRONGLY URGE THEM TO NOT PUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL HEALTH AT RISK OR TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT RESERVE MANAGEMENT GROUP FOR MANY YEARS HAS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF CHICAGO FOOD PANTRY WHICH IS HOUSED ON RMG'S PROPERTY RENT FREE AND EXPANDED TO SERVE MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS MANY FAMILIES AS IT DID PREVIOUSLY THROUGH ITS SUPPORT RMP IS HELPING TO FEED A THOUSAND PEOPLE A WEEK IN THE COMMUNITY FOR WHOM HUNGER IS A FACT AND NOT A CHOICE.

WE REGRET THE ACTION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND HOPE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> ONE OF THINGS THE STRIKERS SAY IS THEY FEEL THEY ARE TAKING STEP IN ORDER TO KEEP THINGS IN A PART OF THE CITY THAT SUFFERS FROM A LOT OF POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

THEY WANT TO KEEP MORE OF THAT OUT.

AND HERE IS WHAT ONE STRIKER HAD TO SAY.

>> THE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS USED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS AND OUR LEGISLATORS ARE NOT RECEIVING IT AND IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WE FEEL WE HAVE TO ESCALATE.

IT IS NOT IDEAL.

I WISH WE HAD BEEN HEARD ALL SUMMER WITH ALL THE [INAUDIBLE] WE VOICED HATING THIS PERMIT IS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED BUT IT FELT LIKE THE NEXT STEP TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR AND SAY WE'RE NOT BACKING DOWN.

>> WAS THE PROCESS TRANSPARENT?

>> WELL, INDEED, IT WAS.

LET ME FIRST SAY IT'S BECOME CLEAR THIS PROJECT HAS THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT HAS LITTLE TO DO NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MERITS ANYMORE.

THE FORMER GENERAL IRON WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS IS BECOME DEMONIZED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE AND BECOME A SYMBOL OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE THAT IS VERY REAL AND SHOULD BE RECEIVING ATTENTION AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

BUT THE NEW SOUTH SIDE RECYCLING FACILITY IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

IT IS NOT THE TOXIC POLLUTER THAT IT'S BEEN PORTRAYED.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN BUILT AROUND SOME MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION AS OPPOSED TO SCIENTIFIC FACTS.

>> AND QUICKLY, WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE THAT YOU THINK SHOULD ASWAGE THE COMMUNITY?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY IT WOULD TAKE A PROGRAM TO LIST THEM.

THIS FACILITY LIKE ON THE NORTH SIDE BEFORE IT CLOSED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR IS THE ONLY METAL SHARDING FACILITY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITHIN 400 MILES THAT HAS A CAPTURE CONTROL SYSTEM, A FILTER, A THERMAL OX DIEDER THAT BURNS OFF COMPOUNDS, EXPLOSIVE PREVENTION DEVICES AND A WET SCRUBBER THAT REMOVES HARMFUL PARTICULATE MATTER AND COMPOUNDS FROM EMISSIONS STREAM.

IT IS THE NEW FACILITY IS GOING TO BE NOTHING LIKE THE OLD FACILITY WAS.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF ITS REMOTENESS AND THE BUFFER THAT SURROUNDS THE 175-ACRE CAMPUS.

VERY MUCH UNLIKE ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE YOU WOULD WALK UP TO THE SLEDDER FROM THE -- SHREDDER FROM THE PUBLIC WAY.

THIS FACILITY IS HALF A MILE FROM THE CLOSEST PUBLIC ACCESS.

THE TESTING THAT HAS BEEN DONE, THE AND AIR MODELING FOR THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO, HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IMPACT WILL NOT BE ANY SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER BY ADDING THIS FACILITY TO THE INDUSTRY THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THAT AREA.

MEANING WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE EMISSIONS OF ANY HARMFUL EMISSIONS INTO THE SENATOR.

>> Mr. SANBORN WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AS WELL.

>> OK THANK YOU, PHIL.

>> AND UP NEXT A DISPLAY OF ITALIAN/AMERICA PRIDE AT ONE OF THE FORMER SITES OF A CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> AND THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD INCLUDING DETAILS ON AN INCREASE IN ANTI-ASIAN AMERICAN HATE CRIMES.

BUT FIRST, LAST SUMMER THE CITY OF CHICAGO TOOK TOWN THREE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUES AFTER VIOLENT ALTERCATIONS CALLING FOR THEIR REMOVAL.

LAST FALL, A DISPLAY OF ITALIAN/AMERICA PRIDE BANNERS APPEARED IN CHICAGO'S LITTLE ITALY NEIGHBORHOOD.

QUINN MYERS HAS MORE.

>> IN OCTOBER, RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO'S LITTLE ITALY NEIGHBORHOOD NOTICED A NEW ADDITION TO AREGION GO PARK WHERE A CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE HAD STOOD FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'VE BEEN THINK BEING THIS FOR MONTHS AND THERE'S STRATEGY AND PLAN.

I'M TELLING YOU, I MADE A LIST.

I CALLED MY BANNER GUY.

I PUT THE STUFF TOGETHER AND IT JUST HAPPENED.

>> THE BANNERS FEATURING ITALIAN/AMERICAS ARE THE WORK OF ROPE RON ONESTI RON PRESIDENT OF COMMITTEE ON ITALIAN/AMERICAS AND PUT THEM AHEAD OF COLUMBUS DAY TO CELEBRATE HIS COMMUNITY'S HERITAGE AND CULTURE.

>> I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING COLORFUL IT WASN'T POLITICAL IT WASN'T NEGATIVE.

DIDN'T MENTION COLUMBUS' NAME THIS IS ABOUT HEY WE ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE SOME OF OUR HEROS.

THESE ARE OUR COLORS.

>> THE BANNERS INCLUDE CELEBRITIES LIKE JOE DIMAGGIO AND STALLONE.

AND THEN THERE ARE A FEW SURPRISING CHOICES.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ITALIAN/AMERICAS IN POP CULTURE THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, TAYLOR SWIFT.

ALICIA KEYS, TIM MCGRAW.

>> THE BANNERS ARRIVED AT A TIME OF NATIONAL RECKONING OVER PUBLIC MONUMENTS AND COLUMBUS HIMSELF WHO MANY CALLED A SYMBOL OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND PROPONENT OF SLAVERY.

AFTER STATUES WERE REMOVED THE CITY LAUNCHED A COMMISSION TO REVIEW MORE THAN 500 MONUMENTS AS PART OF A QUOTE RACIAL HEALING AND HISTORICAL RECKONING PROJECT.

THE COMMISSION FLAGGED 40 MONUMENTS AROUND THE CITY BUT HAS YET TO SAY WHICH ONES.

IN LITTLE ITALY RON ONESTI THOUGHT HE WOULD KEEP THE DISPLAY UP FOR A DAY OR TWO AND AFTER GETTING SO MUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK HE LEFT IT UP.

HOWEVER THE PARK DISTRICT NEVER ISSUED AN OFFICIAL PERMIT AND SAYS THE BANNERS WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN.

>> I WOULD NEVER UTILIZE THIS AS ANY SIGN OF DISRESPECT TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO OR THE CITY OR THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT.

I'M NOT SURE OF THE PROCESS.

I WILL TAKE THEM DOWN.

THIS IS NOT A PROTEST.

THIS IS A FEEL GOOD.

>> RON ONESTI SAYS THE BANNERS WILL COME DOWN SOON.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE PUT UP A NEW ONE JUST THIS WEEK FEATURING TWO PRO ATHLETES WHO ARE BLACK AND HAVE ITALIAN ANCESTRY IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> FRANCO HARRIS WITH THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS AND ROY CAMP CAMPANELLA TWO PROUD ITALIAN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WELCOME IN THE WALL OF FAME.

>> RON ONESTI SPENT $12,000 ON THE 28 BANNERS AND NEARLY A DOZEN ITALIAN FLAGS.

THEIR ONGOING PRESENCE IS A WAY TO TURN LEMONS INTO LEMON CELLO.

>> AS PASSIONATE AS ANYONE OF TAKING DOWN STATUES, WE ARE JUST AS PASSIONATE ON OUR SIDE.

WE ARE NOT SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT AND WE DON'T WANT TO ARGUE, WE WANT TO SIT DOWN AND COME TOGETHER AND COME TO SOME WAY WE CAN ALL BE REPRESENTED HERE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M QUINN MYERS.

>> AND THERE'S NO WORD FROM THE CITY IF THE COLUMBUS STATUE ALSO REAPPEAR.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID THIS WEEK SHE HAD NOT SEEN THE FULL LIST OF MONUMENTS EXAMINED AND WOULD MAKE A DECISION AFTER ITS WORK WAS COMPLETE.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

DETAILS ON AN INCREASE IN AN ANTI-ASIAN AMERICAN HATE CRIMES.

A LOOK HOW CHINATOWN IS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE.

>> FILED A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE TO DIVEST STATE OF ILLINOIS MONEY FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

>> A FILM AIRING THIS WEEKEND ON WTTW DRAWS PARALLELS BETWEEN THE FIGHT AGAINST APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA AND INJUSTICE IN CHICAGO.

AND GEOFFREY BAER TAKES US BACK TO WHEN CHICAGO WAS KNOWN AS THE DETROIT OF BICYCLES IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS USED THEIR FINAL DAY OF ARGUMENT NOTICE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO TELL SENATORS THAT TRUMP SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HIS ACTIONS WOULD LEAD TO VIOLENCE.

THE LEAD IMPEACHMENT MANAGER SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S GUILT IS QUOTE CLEAR AND OVERWHELMING.

FOR INCITING THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL.

ANTICIPATING A FREE SPEECH DEFENSE THE HOUSE MANAGER JOE NEGUSE HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> THEIR ARGUMENTS IS WRONG ON THE FACTS, WRONG ON THE LAW, AND WOULD FLIP THE CONSTITUTION UPSIDE-DOWN.

>> TRUMP'S LAWYER ALSO LAYOUT THEIR DEFENSE OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS THAT LIBERAL GOVERNMENT FOPPED BY CLOSING ARGUMENTS BY BOTH SIDES.

CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY WILL NOT BE FOLLOWING THE STATE IN ADDING MORE PEOPLE TO THE LIST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE YET.

IN A RARE JOINT STATEMENT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE SAY THE MOVE WOULD ADD MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE TO THE LIST MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE TO GET A VACCINE.

YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ANNOUNCED THE STATE WOULD ADD RESIDENTS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO GROUP 1B, THE GROUP ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

BOTH LIGHTFOOT AND PRECKWINKLE SAYS THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH DOSES TO ALLOW THAT EXPANSION.

>> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO PARIS SCHUTZ.

HE SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN CHINATOWN AS A PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

PARIS?

>> BRANDIS A BIT AGO WE SPOKE WITH THE AREA'S STATE REPRESENTATIVE THERESA MAH AND I STARTED BY ASKING HER WHY IT WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THE OLDER RESIDENTS TO GET ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE.

>> THE SENIORS HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN TERMS OF STAYING IN THEIR HOMES.

AND SO I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OUTBREAKS IT'S JUST THAT GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THEM CAN BE CHALLENGING AND NOW WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINES, YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE SENIORS ARE NOT EVEN LITERAL MUCH LESS COMPUTER LITERATE.

IT'S CHALLENGING THEM TO SIGN UP FOR A VACCINATION.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON DOING A POD HERE IN CHINATOWN.

SO AT THE CENTER AND A LAB THAT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE.

THEY ARE PROVIDING 200 VACCINES AND WE'RE SIGNING UP THE SENIORS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS.

HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME NAVIGATING THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

WE'RE USING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH OUT TO THE NECESSARY NETWORKS SO THEY ARE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> THAT IS IMPORTANT.

LET ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT POLITICS.

YOU GOT A NEW SPEAKER, CHRIS CHRISTALIAFERRO WELCH AND HE INTRODUCED TERM LIMBS AND SOME LEGISLATIVE RULES SO THAT THE SPEAKER WILL NOT HAVE SO MUCH CONTROL WHICH BILLS GET CALLED.

DO YOU THINK THESE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THINGS GETTING DONE IN SPRINGFIELD?

>> I THINK IT WILL MAKE THINGS MORE FAIR AND GIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRS A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO GET THINGS MOVING.

I THINK THESE ARE POSITIVE CHANGES.

AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.

>> COMING BACK LOCALLY.

WE'VE INTERVIEWED YOU TWICE AND TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE HATE CRIMES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

ESPECIALLY WITH RELATION TO COVID-19.

HAS THAT STILL BEEN GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY?

HAVE YOU SEEN STILL THE RACIST COMMENTS AND BEYOND THAT VIOLENT ACTS?

>> SO NATIONWIDE WE'VE SEEN REALLY HORRIFIC INCIDENTS IN THE LAST WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT OAKLAND AND SAN FRANCISCO WHERE SOME OLDER ADULTS WERE ATTACKED AND I THINK SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE DIED.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING THAT SERIOUS HERE.

BUT OUR COMMUNITY HAS FELT THE IMPACT OF THE UPTICK IN VIOLENT CRIME OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THE CARJACKINGS AND OTHER CRIME THAT'S BEEN ON THE RISE ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE JUST RECOGNIZED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF TWO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD A YEAR AGO.

THAT WAS A HORRIBLE TRAGIC SENSELESS SET OF MURDERS.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER IMMIGRANT A YOUNG MAN IN BRIDGEPORT WHO WAS KILLED IN THE PROCESS OF A CARJACKING.

SO YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK PEOPLE DESERVE A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND TO HAVE SAFETY IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN OF CONCERN AMONG PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CHINATOWN AND BRIDGEPORT AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

>> STILL ONGOING CONCERNS THERE.

THAT IS OUR CONVERSATION WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE THERESA MAH.

IN A BIT WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE SUBDUED LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS THE YEAR OF THE OX IS A FEW HOURS AWAY.

AND NOW BRANDIS BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, LOOKING BACK AT NELSON MANDELA'S VISIT TO CHICAGO IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> FOR DECADES, APARTHEID WAS STATE SANCTIONS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS REPEALED IN THE EARLY 1990s.

A NEW FILM AIRING SUNDAY ON WTTW DELVES INTO CHICAGO'S FREE SOUTH AFRICA MOVEMENT AND SECURE THE RELEASE OF EVENTUAL SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA FROM PRISON.

>> I.

>> [INAUDIBLE] ORGANIZE, AND PRODUCE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ANTIAPARTHEID MOVEMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS THE FILMMAKER OF MAN LEGAL DA -- MANDELA IN CHICAGO, IS AVA THOMPSON GREENWELL PROFESSOR A MEDILL'S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATS ON THE FILM AIRING.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

>> IT DISCUSS HOW ACTIVISM AGAINST APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA KICKED OFF WITH A RUGBY GAME IN THE CITY.

HOW DID ACTIVISTS AND THE CITY COUNCIL RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WELL, THEY BANNED THE RUGBY TEAM FROM PLAYING IN CHICAGO WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING THAT ACTIVISTS AND I CALL THEM SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS COULD MOBILIZE IN THAT WAY.

SO THEY DID ALL KINDS OF THINGS BY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE PRACTICING AND THEY FOUND OUT THEY WERE HEADED TO KENOSHA, WISCONSIN OF ALL PLACES TO PLAY THIS GAME.

IN THE FILM, SOME OF THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN MOBILIZING FOR THAT, TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THAT.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE VERY INTERESTING STORIES.

>> WE HAVE TO WATCH THE FILM.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S THE TEASE.

>> LET'S REWIND 30 YEARS REFRESH US WHAT WAS GOING ON SOCIALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA AT THE TIME?

>> SO TODAY, ACTUALLY, BRANDIS IS THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF NELSON MANDELA'S RELEASE FROM PRISON ON FEBRUARY 11, 1990.

DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, AS YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WORLD REALLY HAD COME TOGETHER TO TRY AND GET NOT ONLY NELSON MANDELA RELEASED AND END APARTHEID.

THERE WAS ACTIVITY GOING ON IN CHICAGO THAT LED UP TO THAT.

STARTING AROUND THE 1980s YOU HAVE THE COALITION FOR ILLINOIS DIVEST.

IN SOUTH AFRICA.

ONE OF THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN CHICAGO THAT WAS TRYING TO EDUCATE CITIZENS, BUT TRYING TO MOBILIZE THEM AND MOTIVATE THEM TO SEE THAT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN SOUTH AFRICA WAS NOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CHICAGO IN TERMS OF HOW SEGREGATED THE CITY WAS AND STILL IS AND ALSO THE KIND OF INEQUITIES THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE FACING IN THE UNITED STATES WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT THE INEQUITIES WERE AND STILL ARE FOR BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE PROTESTS BY THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS, THE CITY AND STATE WERE ABLE TO MOBILIZE AND CUTOFF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SOUTH AFRICA.

HERE IS A SENATOR DISCUSSING ABOUT A BILL U DISINVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND SO I FILED A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE TO DIVEST STATE OF ILLINOIS MONEY FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

I CAN REMEMBER THE SKY AT THE TIME THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SAYING TO ME HE WAS AGAINST THE BILL.

BUT HE SAID TO ME, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU ARE SO UPSET IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND I SAID THAT'S THE POINT.

>> HOW EFFECTIVE WAS ILLINOIS IN HITTING SOUTH AFRICA IN THE WALLET?

>> WELL, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET LEGISLATION AT THE CITY LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL TO STOP THE GOVERNMENTS FROM SPENDING MONEY WITH COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN OUT AFRICA.

DANNY DAVIS WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

IT WAS EFFECTIVE.

JESSE JACKSON TALKED ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1984 AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN THAT WAY.

CHICAGOANS WERE VERY EFFECTIVE AND VERY INVOLVED.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME, IS THAT THIS STORY BE TOLD.

I WAS TELLING YOUR PRODUCER THAT ALREADY THREE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DOCUMENTARY PASSED AWAY.

SO I KNOW AND KNEW, THAT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THESE FOLKS TO TELL THEIR STORY.

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WEARIERS TO TELL THEIR STORY WHILE THEY COULD.

AND THE OTHER GOAL IS TO REIGNITE INTEREST IN WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE APARTHEID ENDED.

THERE IS A NEW GENERATION THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE STORY AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET THE DOCUMENTARY IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AREA SCHOOLS AND DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS EVEN WITH SCHOOLS IN SOUTH AFRICA SO ANDY THAYER WILL KNOW THE STORY AS WELL.

>> WHEN NELSON MANDELA WAS FREED AFTER 27 YEARS BEHIND BARS HE EMBARKED ON A U.S. TOUR SKIPPING CHICAGO BUT HE WOULD VISIT CHICAGO IN 1993.

HOW IMPORTANT AND SYMBOLIC WAS THAT VISIT AT THE TIME?

>> THAT VISIT WAS HUGE NOT ONLY FOR THE PSYCHE OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN CHICAGO WHO WORKED TO END APARTHEID.

BUT IT WAS ALSO HUGE FOR THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING THE TOURS TO RAISE MONEY.

THERE WAS AN ELECTION COMING UP.

IT WAS A FUNDRAISING EFFORT AND IT WAS A THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

>> SO YOU CODIRECT MEDILL'S SOUTH AFRICA'S RESPECTSY PROGRAM AND THERE IS A NEW GENERATION WHO MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ANTIAPARTHEID MOVEMENT.

HOW DID YOUR IDEA FOR THE FILM COME ABOUT?

>> I WAS TEACHING THE PREP COURSE FOR OUR JOURNALISM STUDENTS WHO TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA AND WORK AS JUNIOR REPORTERS IN CAPETOWN AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS HERE WE ARE IN EVANSTON AND CHICAGO, WE HAVE A CHICAGO CAMPUS AND OFTEN RIGHT HERE RIGHT IN OUR AREA, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK AND HAVE A STORY TO TELL.

AND WE NEED TO START BRINGING THE PEOPLE INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AS I BROUGHT ONE PERSON IN AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON AND ANOTHER PERSON AND BEFORE YOU KNEW IT, I HAD MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE WHO I INTERVIEWED FOR THIS FILM.

AND I COULD HAVE INTERVIEWED ANOTHER 20 PEOPLE.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO CUT IT OFF.

CHICAGO REALLY HAS A RICH HISTORY.

AND I WOULD SAY INTO THE JUST FOR MYSELF BUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE FILM.

I HAD STUDENTS HELPING WITH RESEARCH, THERE IS THE COMPANY THAT EDITED THAT IS DONNIE AND ERIC SEALS THE SEALS BROTHERS.

SO I AM GRATEFUL TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ASSISTED.

WHEN I GOT TO THE CREDITS LIST IT FELT LIKE IT KEPT GOING AND GOING.

I WANT TO SAY IT WASN'T JUST ME THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS TO AVA THOMPSON GREENWELL.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FILM.

AGAIN BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, BRANDIS.

>> UP NEXT, HOW CHICAGO'S CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IS CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

>> PARIS SCHUTZ SPENT THE DAY IN CHINATOWN.

>> BRANDIS WE'RE JOINED BY THE C.E.O.

OF THE CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE PAUL LUU THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A MASS DRIVE GOING FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR YOU DID A VACCINATION DRIVE.

HOW ARE THOSE GOING?

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.

OUR MASK EVENTS WAS TO HELP BRIDGE THE RELATIONSHIPS AND FOSTER A NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH OUR OTHER COMMUNITIES.

WE PROVIDED 150,000 KN95 MASKS TO 167 NONPROFITS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES IN CHINATOWN.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

AND DID YOU DID 350 VACCINATIONS.

ANY RESISTANCE TO THE VACCINATIONS HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE VACCINATED OVER 350 HOMEMAKERS, AND THE MAJORITY ARE FEELING FINE AND THEY ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND THE CENTER IS DOING THE SAME THING LOTS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS STEPPING IN.

YOU ARE DOING A MEAL DRIVE FOR OLDER RESIDENTS TALK ABOUT HUNGER IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU HAVE BEEN STEPPING IN?

>> DUE TO THE PANDEMIC MANY OF OUR SENIORS ARE ISOLATED.

AND ONE OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY DINERS WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE PIVOTED AND WE STARTED TO PROVIDE HOT CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MEALS TO THREE MEALS A DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE APRIL OF 2020.

AND WE HAVE PROVIDED 190,000 HOT MEALS TO SENIORS EVERYDAY.

>> LOTS OF HAPPY SENIORS AND GRATEFUL SENIORS FOR THAT SERVICE.

CHINESE NEW YEAR.

HOW IS IT BEING CELEBRATED?

NO PARADE AND NO FESTIVITIES?

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE, TYPICALLY IT IS A FESTIVE TIME AND EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE CDC GUIDELINES AND BE PHYSICALLY DISTANCED.

MANY ARE FAMILIES ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO GREET AND WISH THE FAMILY MEMBERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> THE YEAR OF THE OX?

WHAT DOES THE YEAR OF THE OX PORTEND?

>> THE YEAR OF THE OX IS ABOUT STRENGTH AND BEING RESILIENT AS MANY MAY KNOW THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRONG RESILIENCY TO ALL ADVERSITY.

WE KNOW THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AS MONTHS TO COME WILL BE STRONGER AND BETTER FOR THIS.

>> PAUL, WE TALKED WITH THERESA MAH EARLIER ABOUT SOME OF THE RISE IN HATE CRIMES WE'VE SEEN NOT ONLY IN CHINATOWN BUT IN CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN HERE?

AND HAS THAT SUBSIDED AT ALL?

>> WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE ABOUT THE HATE CRIMES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE CAUGHT AND PROSECUTED.

IN CHICAGO ESPECIALLY IN CHINATOWN COMMUNITY.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS SMALL MICRO AGGRESSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA TOWARDS THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY.

CASTLE HAS WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS AND THAT THEY CAN FILE COMPLAINTS.

>> VERY IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING.

PAUL LUU THANK YOU SO MUCH.

C.E.O.

OF THE CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW AND WE WILL WRAP THINGS UP IN A BIT.

>> SEE YOU SOON.

AND UP NEXT, CHICAGO ORIGINS OF A FAMOUS BICYCLE COMPANY IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> BICYCLE SALES IN CHICAGO HAVE SURGED OVER THE PAST YEAR AS THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE FOR EXERCISE AND RECREATION.

BUT IT'S HARDLY THE CITY'S FIRST BIKE BOOM.

GEOFFREY BAER IS HERE TO TAKE US BACK TO WHEN CHICAGO WAS CALLED THE DETROIT OF BICYCLES IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

SO, GEOFFREY THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS... >> WELL, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE MAYBE FLIRTING WITH SUBZERO TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK BUT THERE ARE THOSE DEDICATED FEW CYCLING THROUGH THE ICE AND SLUSH TO REMIND US OF THE SURGE IN CYCLING WE'VE SEEN THIS PAST YEAR.

THE ORIGINS OF MODERN CYCLING CAN BE TRACED BACK TO OUR CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE BUILDING IN QUESTION IN CHICAGO WAS ONCE ONE OF THE FACTORIES OWNED BY THE SCHWINN BICYCLE COMPANY AT ONE TIME ONE OF THE LARGEST BICYCLE MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE COMPANY'S ORIGINS DATE BACK TO THE GREAT BICYCLE BOOM OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.

BIKES WERE BECOMING ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE DUE TO THE ADD VENT OF THE MODERN BICYCLE CHAIN IN THE 1870s.

BEFORE OUR SO-CALLED SAFETY BICYCLES OF TODAY, MOST BIKES HAD THOSE ENORMOUS FRONT WHEELS AND WERE EXPENSIVE.

THEY WERE CALLED PENNY OR ORDINARIES AND LET ME TELL YOU I RODE ONE IN OUR SHOW BIKING THE BOULEVARDS AND IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF LEG POWER AND IT FELT WOBBLELY AND IT IS A LONG WAY DOWN IF YOU FALL.

BY THE 1890s, THE CHICAGO REGION HAD MORE THAN 80 MANUFACTURERS WHICH COLLECTIVELY CRANKED OUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNTRY'S BICYCLES MANY FACTORIES ON LAKE STREET IN FULTON MARKET.

THAT IS WHERE THE FIRST SCHWINN FACTORY WAS.

THAT WAS THE CORNER OF LAKE AND PEORIA.

THE COMPANY WAS KNOWN AS ARNOLD SCHWINN AND COMPANY.

TWO LAST NAMES.

BUT THE PERSON BEHIND IT ALL WAS THIS GUY, SCHWINN.

THE SHORT MAN ON THE RIGHT IN THIS PICTURE.

SCHWINN MADE RACING BIKES BUT THEY MADE PLEASURE CRUISERS LIKE THIS TANDEM BIKE DATING FROM THE 1890s.

>> NICE HANDLING GEOFFREY.

HOW DID SCHWINN STICK OUT AMONGST THE OTHER DOZENS OF BIKE MANUFACTURERS IN CHICAGO?

>> WELL, THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE OTHERS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.

THE BICYCLE BOOM WENT BUST IN THE EARLY 1900'S DUE TO MARKET OVERSATURATION AND THE RISE OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

SCHWINN HAD POSITIONED HIMSELF TO STAY IN BUSINESS THANKS TO CREATIVE MARKETING AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS LIKE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAIL ORDER GIANT SEARS WHICH SHIPPED SCHWINN BIKES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN 1901, SCHWINN MOVED THE FACTORY TO THE COSTNER AVENUE FACILITY AND SCHWINN OPENED THIS LARGER FACTORY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

AND THAT WOULD STAY OPEN UNTIL THE EARLY 1980s.

AFTER WORLD WAR II, SCHWINN'S SON LAUNCHED A REIMAGINED LINE OF BICYCLES APPEALING TO KIDS AND TEENAGERS IN THE 60s AND 70s.

THE COOLEST KIDS HAD THE STINGRAY, REMEMBER THIS WITH THE BANANA SEAT.

AND POST-WAR MODELS FEATURED A SLEEK CHROME FINISH TO GIVE IT A SPACE AGE LOOK AND SCHWINN'S BRANDING WAS REBRANDING WAS POPULAR BY THE 1950s.

THIS ONE COMPANY SCHWINN, WAS MANUFACTURING UP TO A QUARTER OF THE BICYCLES MADE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

LIKE MOST KIDS MY BIKES GROWING UP WERE SCHWINNS THE FIRST WAS A CRUISER TODAY IT WAS BLACK AND CHROME FENDERS.

I USED TO DELIVER MY PAPERS WITH THAT BICYCLE.

LATER I HAD A YELLOW SCHWINN VARSITY BUT MY BROTHER WAS THE COOLER ONE.

HE HAD THE STINGRAY.

>> WHAT?

WE DON'T HAVE THE PICTURES OF YOU LITTLE GUYS ON YOUR BIKES?

>> I WISH I COULD FIND ONE.

>> HOW CONVENIENT FOR YOU, GEOFFREY.

SCHWINN IS STILL A HOUSEHOLD NAME BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER BASED IN CHICAGO, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

STARTING IN THE 1970s, UNFORTUNATELY, SCHWINN WAS PRETTY SLOW TO REACT TO SEVERAL CHANGES IN THE BICYCLE MARKET.

AS WELL AS THE RISE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS.

AND BY THE 90s, THE 1990s, SCHWINN FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY AND SOLD OFF THE BRAND.

SCHWINN'S TODAY ARE MADE OVERSEAS EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE MODEL A LIMITED RUN OF THE COLLEGIATE MANUFACTURED IN DETROIT.

AS OUR QUESTIONER POINTED OUT THERE ARE REMNANTS LIKE THE BUILDING ON COSTNER HOME TO A COMPANY THAT BREWS CIDER AND YOU CAN SEE VINTAGE CHICAGO MADE SCHWINNS ALL OVER TOWN ALTHOUGH USUALLY IN WARMER MONTHS.

THE SWEET 1974 VARSITY BELONGS TO WTTW PHOTOGRAPHER FELIX MENDEZ WHO SHOOTS STORIES FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>> HE SURE DOES.

FELIX'S BIKE.

GEOFFREY BAER THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SCHWINN BICYCLE COMPANY AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER AT... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND FELIX IS DOING CAMERA FOR US RIGHT NOW.

FIVE FEET AWAY FROM ME.

YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST.

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. >> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY WARM.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

[♪♪♪]