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

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> ABSOLUTELY IT'S FAIR THAT SCHOOLS ARE STRUGGLING WITH TESTING.

>> WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CANCELED AGAIN TOMORROW A LOOK AT THE ROLE OF COVID TESTING IN SCHOOLS AND NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

>> WE WILL NOT RELENT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> ONE-ON-ONE WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AMID THE ONGOING STANDOFF WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION.

>> IN THE FACE OF EXTREME DANGER, THEY ALL RISKED THEIR SAFETY FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REMEMBER WHAT THEY FACED DURING LAST YEAR'S CAPITOL RIOT.

>> YOU CAN'T OBEY THE LAW ONLY WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT.

>> A LOOK AT HOW FAR RIGHT EXTREMISM CHANGED SINCE THE INSURRECTION.

>> HOW SOME RESIDENTS ARE HANDLING THE LATEST PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE IN CLEARING FOR OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> THE BALL IS LOOSE AGAIN!

THERE IT IS!

>> AND A RARE BRIGHT SPOT FOR THE BEARS AS ROB QUINN BREAKS THE TEAM'S SINGLE SEASON SACK RECORD.

CAN HE ADD TO IT AGAINST THE VIKINGS?

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED I'M IN CLEARING AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" IN THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

IT IS AN AREA RESIDENTS SAY IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CITY WORKERS AND IT IS A MULTIRESIDENTIAL AREA EXCEPT BEING HOME TO THE SOUTHERN HALF OF MIDWAY AIRPORT.

WE SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF COURSE HOW THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED THIS AREA BUT FIRST BACK TO YOU.

>> WE'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU IN A BIT.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> TAXPAYERS LIVING IN COUNTIES HIT BY DECEMBER'S SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES, NOW HAVE UNTIL MAY 16TH TO FILE TAX RETURNS AND MAKE INCOME TAX PAYMENTS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN OR OWN A BUSINESS IN THE IMPACTED AREAS WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PENALTIES AND INTEREST ON THE STATE OR FEDERAL TAX DEADLINES GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL TIME TO GATHER PAPERWORK AND MAKE THE FILING OF THEIR TAXES.

GRACE PERIOD COVERS INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX AND BUSINESS TAX RETURNS.

>> ANOTHER NEW RECORD FOR DAILY COVID CASES IN ILLINOIS WITH NEARLY 12,000 MORE THAN YESTERDAY.

THE STATE RECORDED MORE THAN 44,000 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS WITH 104 ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ALSO SET A NEW RECORD WITH MORE THAN 7,000 HOSPITALIZED COVID PATIENTS OF THOSE PATIENTS MORE THAN 1100 ARE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

THE POSITIVITY INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO 18.6%.

>> AND THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS ENCOURAGING ALL ELIGIBLE CHICAGOANS TO GET THE PFIZER BOOSTER DOSE.

IT COMES A DAY AFTER THE C.D.C.

EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR A THIRD DOSE TO 12-15-YEAR-OLDS.

PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO RECEIVE THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS FIVE MONTHS AFTER THEIR INITIAL PFIZER COVID VACCINE SERIES.

PFIZER IS THE ONLY VACCINE AVAILABLE TO THOSE UNDERAGE 18.

>> A NEW EFFORT TO PREVENT OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS.

STARTING LATER THIS MONTH, THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION NARCAN WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 14 LIBRARIES ACROSS THE CITY.

THE NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THE MEDICATION A NAYS CAL SPRAY FORM OF THE DRUG WILL TARGET PARTS OF CHICAGO HIT HARDEST BY OVERDOSES.

ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM OPIOID OVERDOSES DO SO BEFORE AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM HAS HAD THE TIME TO ARRIVE.

THE PROGRAM IS SET TO EXPAND TO 27 LIBRARY BRANCHES LATER THIS YEAR.

>> AND UP NEXT, COVID TESTING IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> A THIRD DAY OF NO SCHOOL FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE DISTRICT CANCELED CLASSES AGAIN FOR TOMORROW.

AMONG THE ISSUES DIVIDING C.P.S.

AND THE TEACHERS' UNION.

COVID TESTING.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH THE LATEST.

>> YEAH, BRANDIS IT IS STILL IS NOT EASY FOR PARENTS TO PLAN WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THOUGH MAYBE SOME FOLKS WERE EXPECTING THIS BY NOW ON A THIRD DAY WITH WORD FROM C.P.S.

COMING IN 5:30 THIS EVENING THAT CLASSES FOR FRIDAY WILL BE CANCELED AS THE DISTRICT AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION CONTINUE TO BARGAIN OVER SCHOOL SAFETY.

A LETTER FROM SCHOOL'S C.F.O.

PEDRO MARTINEZ SAYING A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOL ALSO ALLOW STUDENTS IN BUT NOT FOR CLASS.

YOU SHOULD NOT PLAN TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL THE LETTER SAYS UNLESS YOUR CHILD'S PRINCIPAL TELLS YOU CAN CAN COME FOR IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES.

WHATEVER THOSE ARE ALSO.

NO LIST PROVIDED OF WHAT PARTICULAR SCHOOLS WILL BE OPENING THEIR DOORS TO CHILDREN.

ONE OF THE ISSUES BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

IS COVID TESTING IN SCHOOLS.

>> WE HAVE SOME THING WE AGREE ON.

DO WE NEED ACCESS TO MORE TESTING?

ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE BEEN CLEAR HOW FRUSTRATED I HAVE BEEN ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH TESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO RAMP UP.

I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE.

>> CHICAGO'S TOP DOCTOR ALLISON ARWADY SAID NOW WITH ONLY CROP ON THE RISE THAT SUPPLY IS AN ISSUE.

LEAH PERKINSON IS MANAGER OF PANDEMICS ARE THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND HOSTED WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, A LEARNING NETWORK WITH SCHOOLS ON HOW THEY CAN START AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COVID TESTING PROGRAMS.

PERKINSON SAYS TEST SOMETHING A PROBLEM NATIONWIDE.

>> SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FEELING THE SQUEEZE OF A SUPPLY CHAIN THAT HAS BOTTLENECKS ALL OVER.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS MORE PRONOUNCED NOW BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS GREATER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

>> BUT SHE SAYS THERE IS ONE POTENTIAL OPTION AND THAT IS A TEST CREATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CALLED SHIELD.

AND IT USES SALIVA SOMETHING THAT SOME STUDIES FOUND TO BE MORE RELIABLE FOR DETECTING OMICRON THAN NASAL SWAB TESTS.

RESULTS COME IN ABOUT 24 HOURS AND SHIELD SAYS THIS IS IN USE IN 1700 SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN ILLINOIS, INCLUDING JOLIET HIGH SCHOOL'S TWO CAMPUSES, COVID TESTING MANDATORY FOR ATHLETES IN SEASON AND THOSE PARTICIPATING IN HIGH-RISK EXTRACURRICULARS LINE CHOIR AND BAND.

THOSE ARE EXTRACURRICULARS IF THEY STUDENT DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN TESTING THEY WOULD BE 0 OPTING OUT OF TESTING AND THE EXTRACURRICULAR.

AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS A POPULAR DECISION.

BUT WE WERE LOOKING AT THE MAIN GOAL WAS INSURING THAT WE WERE KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL.

>> SUPERINTENDENT KARLA GUSEMAN SAYS NOT POPULAR WHEN THE HOMECOMING GAME WAS CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WAS ENOUGH FOOTBALL PLAYERS WITH IT AND OTHER SPORTS MATCHES CALLED OFF BECAUSE OF COVID.

>> SOME OF THE KIDS WERE ASYMPTOMATIC.

AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY HAD COVID IF THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TESTED.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT IS A DEBATE I WILL LEAVE TO OTHERS BUT THOSE WERE REAL LOSSES THAT KIDS AND FAMILIES FELT.

>> DESPITE THE LOSSES, SHE SAYS THIS TESTING PROTOCOL HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

SHIELD IS AVAILABLE TO JOLIET STUDENTS AND TEACHERS EVERY MORNING AND SHE SAYS IT'S HELPED TO KEEP STUDENTS IN DLAS BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY HAVE HAD AN EXPOSURE TO COVID, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL AS LONG AS THEY REGULARLY TEST NEGATIVE.

TESTS TO STAY IN PLAY IN JOLIET.

JOLIET'S ELEMENTARY DISTRICT DOES NOT OFFER ANY IN-SCHOOL COVID TESTING.

CHICAGO'S REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT TESTING ARE ONE OF THE SOURCES OF DISCONNECT BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

WITH C.T.U.

WANT TO GO MORE FREQUENT AND RELIABLE AND UNION PRESSING FOR ALL STUDENTS TO GET TESTED IN SCHOOL UNLESS THEY OPT-OUT OF IT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS LEGAL.

BUT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYING THERE IS NO WAY THAT SHE WOULD ALLOW WHAT SHE CALLED A WASSY MEDICAL -- QUASI MEDICAL PROCEDURE TO BE WITHOUT PARENT'S PERMISSION.

THEY REQUIRE STUDENTS TO SIGN UP TO GET COVID TESTING.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE SIGNED UP WITH THE SHIELD PROGRAM IT'S HALF AND HALF FOR CONSENT.

>> MANY WISHED THEY HAD DONE OPT-OUT.

WHEN YOU GET IN OUTBREAK LOAD YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL TELL YOU YOU NEED TO TEST THE ENTIRE FIFTH GRADE.

IF THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF CONSENT THEY HAVE TO RUSH TO GET CONSENT.

IT IS EASIER IF THEY CAN GET THE CONSENT UP FRONT.

>> C.P.S.

DID NOT RESPOND TO A QUESTION WHY THEY WENT WITH A DIFFERENT VENDOR BUT WITH THIS OMICRON SURGE MORE ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CALLING TO SIGN UP WITH SHIELD.

>> I'M GETTING FOUR TO FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS A DAY REACHING OUT TRYING TO SIGN UP FOR TESTING AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE CAPACITY FOR THEM AND WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THEM ONBOARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE REALLY WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS VACCINATION AND ALL THE MITIGATION LAYERS AND TESTING HELPS FIND PATIENT ZERO AND HELPS STOP THE SPREAD AND KEEPS COOL?

SESSION.

BETH HELLER SHIELD SAYS THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND SHIELD SALIVA COMMUNITY TESTING WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN CHICAGO.

NOW, AS C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

CONTINUE NEGOTIATING OVER SAFETY MEASURES, THAT WOULD RESUME CLASSES, EACH SIDE FILED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AGREEMENT CHARGE AGAINST THE OTHER.

BOB BRUNO WHO TEACHES LABOR LAW SAYS IT IS LIKELY BOTH SIDES ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS WAITING TO WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM COULD TAKE WEEKS AND IT LEAVES A LOT TO CHANCE.

>> SOMEBODY COULD COME OUT OF THIS WITH MORE POWER.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT EITHER OF THE PARTIES REALLY WANT TO RISK THAT HAPPENING.

WHEN THEY COULD MANAGE TO FIND COMPROMISE AT THE TABLE.

>> MANAGE TO FIND COMPROMISE?

IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.

BUT NOT IN TIME FOR TOMORROW.

AGAIN, FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR EITHER IN-SCHOOL OR IN-REMOTE C.P.S.

CLASSES CANCELED FOR FRIDAY.

>> NOW, WE HAVE TO HOPE FOR NEXT WEEK FOR RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH A ONE-ON-ONE WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

PARIS?

>> AS AMANDA REPORTED THE TURMOIL AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL GO ON TOMORROW AS THE C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

REMAIN AT ODDS OVER HOLDING IN-PERSON CLASSES.

I SPOKE WITH MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ABOUT THE SITUATION.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HER HOW MANY SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN WITH STANDOFF TOMORROW?

>> -- STAFF TOMORROW?

>> I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT SITTING HERE TODAY BUT WHAT WE SAW FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY IS AN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL THAT ARE REPORTING TO SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE FULLY OPEN.

OTHERS THAT ARE AT VARIOUS DEGREES.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF STAFF NOT ONLY TO TEACH BUT KEEP KIDS SAFE.

WE'RE WORKING ON IMPROVING THOSE NUMBERS.

>> AND IS C.P.S.

CLOSER TO C.T.U.

IN TERMS OF AGREEING ON ISSUES LIKE TESTING, VACCINATION, MASKS AND METRICS FOR CLOSING DOWN CLASSROOMS?

>> LOOK, WE PUT A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE ON TUESDAY BEFORE THE C.T.U.

VOTE FOR METRICS REGARDING EITHER TRANSITIONING CLASSROOMS OR WHOLE SCHOOLS TO REMOTE IF THERE WERE VIRUS NUMBERS THAT WERE TROUBLING.

WE'RE WAITING TO GET A RESPONSE BACK FROM THE C.T.U.

WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK FOR MORE TESTING AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT TO WHETHER OR NOT IT IS AGREED UPON WE ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE.

BUT MEANWHILE THERE'S TESTING THAT IS AVAILABLE AT LOCAL SCHOOLS.

AND IMPORTANTLY, WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR FAMILIES TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED.

THAT IS THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF THESE CHALLENGES.

IF WE CAN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE VACCINATION RATE AMONG C.P.S.

STUDENTS WE WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT AND WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR THAT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF VACCINE AVAILABLE.

THERE'S VACCINE AVAILABLE AT SCHOOLS.

THERE'S VACCINE AVAILABLE IN FQAC'S AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND PHARMACIES.

WE REALLY WANT PARENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DOWNTIME AND GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, C.P.S.

IS SAYING THEY WANT MANDATORY TESTING.

THEY WANT PARENTS HAVING ABILITY TO OPT-OUT.

AND YOU WANT PARENTS TO HAVE TO GIVE PERMISSION TO OPT-IN.

IS THERE LEGAL GROUND ON THAT?

>> I THINK THERE CAN BE A MIDDLE GROUND BUT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE NOTION WHEN WE HAVE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PARENTS WHO OPTED IN THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT OPTED IN.

IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE AS A PARENT AND CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL LIABILITY.

WE HAVE TO REACH A COMMON GROUND THERE.

I THINK WE CAN BUT SAYING WE'RE IF PARENTS DO NOT GIVE US A NO, THAT WE ARE GOING TO IMPOSE A QUASI MEDICAL PROCEDURE ON THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND CONSENT I CANNOT AGREE TO THAT.

WE CAN REACH THE MIDDLE GROUND.

>> THERE IS A PROPOSAL YOU ARE WORKING ON.

WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE PRESENTED?

>> WE CAN REACH A MIDDLE GROUND WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.

I THINK THERE'S WAYS WE CAN WORK TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO HAVE AFFIRMATIVELY CONSENTED.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH C.T.U.

ON THAT.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN REACH COMMON GROUND ON BUT WHEN THEY GO TO THE NUCLEAR OPTION AND GO AND ON AN ILLEGAL STRIKE IT MAKES WORKING TOGETHER SO MUCH MORE CHALLENGING.

>> AND IT'S NOTED THAT C.T.U.

DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO TEACH REMOTELY.

GIVEN THE REALITY THAT IS WHERE TEACHERS ARE, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO ALLOWING REMOTE INSTRUCTION IN THE INTERIM?

>> WE HAVE HAD REMOTE INSTRUCTION WHERE IT'S NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT HAS BEEN A THING.

WHAT I DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE AND BECAUSE THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA DO NOT DICTATE IT IT'S SHUTTING DOWN A SCHOOL SYSTEM AS THEY HAVE DONE.

THEY ARE IN AN ILLEGAL STRIKE AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN THIS ACTION TEACHERS WHO DO NOT REPORT TO WORK AND DO THEIR JOB ARE NOT GETTING PAID.

>> ILLEGAL STRIKE YOU FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE EDUCATION LABOR RELATIONS BOARD DOES THAT MEAN YOU MIGHT GO TO COURT LIKE THE FOP OVER VACCINATIONS?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER LEGAL ON SHOPS.

BUT THE BEST THING FOR OUR KIDS AND PARENTS IS REACH SOME RESOLUTION AND GET STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AND MOVE FORWARD.

LEGAL ACTIONS OBVIOUSLY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION BUT THE BEST OPTION IS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM AND THE BEST PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LEARN IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

KEEP IN MIND OUR KIDS DEPEND UPON OUR SCHOOLS FOR MUCH MORE THAN LEARNING THEIR ABC'S OR MATH.

THEY DEPEND UPON SCHOOLS FOR FOOD, MEDICINE A LOT OF ASSIST TENSE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICULARLY OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.

AND WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THOSE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES THAT DEPEND ON THE SCHOOLS EVERYDAY.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT PARENTS WHO ARE NOW STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AND NOT ABLE TO EITHER WORK OR HOME SCHOOL.

AND THAT CHOICE SHOULD NOT BE THERE.

C.T.U.

SHOULD NOT HAVE PUT THEM IN THIS POSITION.

>> WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE THAT REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT A GOOD OPTION.

BUT YOU SAY SCHOOLS ARE THE SAFEST PLACE.

STATE OF ILLINOIS PLOWED PAST THE DAILY RECORD FOR COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SETTING A RECORD INCLUDING CHILD HOSPITALIZATIONS.

CAN YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH PARENTS THAT SAY WAIT MAYBE WE DON'T WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T SYMPATHIZE, I DO.

NO ONE KNOWS THE NUMBERS BETTER THAN I DO.

NO ONE EXPERIENCED IT WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS IT'S HARD, DIFFICULT STUFF IT IS A VERY CONCERNING TIME.

BUT WHY I SAY THAT SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, IS A NUMBER OF THINGS.

$100 MILLION IN RETROFITS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE IMPROVED VENTILATION AND IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF CLASSROOMS AND PUT AIR FILTERS IN THAT WE PUT PARTITIONS IN AND MASKS, HAND SANITIZERS AND STOOD UP SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEES.

AND WHEN YOU ADHERE TO THE SAFETY GUIDELINES THOSE MITTDATION GUIDELINES WITH FIDELITY AND OUR CHILDREN ARE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN CLASSROOMS WITH MASKS, THAT IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM TO BE TO LEARN.

>> YOU CONTINUE SAYING THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MASKS AND NOT ENOUGH TESTS, BUT -- >> NO, NO, NO, NO: THERE'S PLENTY OF MASKS.

WE HAVE PURCHASED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MASKS WE PUSHED 200,000 MASKS INTO C.P.S.

JUST THIS WEEK.

THE MASKS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT TO GET MORE CHILDREN VACCINATED.

BUT PUTTING THEM AT RISK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE COMMUNITY SPREAD IS HIGH, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BE IN-PERSON IN SCHOOLS?

THAT HEIGHTENS THE RISK IT DOESN'T LOWER THE RISK.

IF YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT Dr. ARWADY AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE OF C.P.S.

OVER THE COURSE OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE'VE HAD 50 CASES THAT CDPH IDENTIFIED AS CLUSTERS AND MANY OF THEM WERE OCCASIONED BY THINGS THAT HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL COMING INTO THE SCHOOL.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

>> MAYOR, I MEAN THIS IS AN EMERGENCY KIDS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL OR LEARNING.

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS ON YOUR SIDE, TOO.

IS THERE ASSISTANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE POSSIBLY ON THIS?

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR SUPPORT WHATSOEVER.

BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE SOLVED AT THE BARGAINING TABLE BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND THE C.T.U.

AND THEY YOU HAD THAT AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAFEST PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO BE IS IN SCHOOLS AND IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE, PARIS.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, AND LAWMAKERS ARE MARKING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE JAP 6TH CAPITOL RIOTS WHEN THE PROCESS TO CERTIFY A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION WAS TEMPORARILY SUBVERTED BY A MOB OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS WHO TOOK PART.

PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLED OUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR HIS ROLE LAST JANUARY 6TH.

>> WHAT DO WE NOT SEE?

WE DIDN'T SEE A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO JUST RALLIED THE MOB TO ATTACK SITTING IN A PRIVATE DINING ROOM OFF THE OVAL OFFICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WATCHING IT ALL ON TELEVISION.

AND DOING NOTHING FOR AS POLICE WERE ASSAULTED, LIVES AT RISK, NATION'S CAPITOL UNDER SIEGE.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY AND WHERE THE COUNTRY HAS COME SINCE ARE CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY A DEMOCRAT FROM MADISON AND CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY WE INVITED ALL ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE BACK HERE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY YOU TOOK PART IN THE COMMEMORATION AT THE CAPITOL.

WE TALKED TO YOU ONE YEAR AGO TODAY YOU WERE IN THE GALLERY WHAT STANDS OUT AMONG YOUR MEMORIES OF THAT DAY?

>> WHEN I WALKED INTO THE CAPITOL THAT DAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SEE SOMETHING POSITIVE AND WOUND UP ON MY HANDS AND KNEES WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFFERS AND CAMERAMEN AND REPORTERS.

AND I KNOW IT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD BECAUSE I WORK ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS THIS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE MEANING COULD THIS BE THE END FOR ME?

THAT STANDS OUT.

AND JUST THE I GUESS, IT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLE IT WAS EVEN HAPPENING AND IT'S STILL UNBELIEVABLE TODAY THAT IT HAPPENED.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY THE MEMORIES MOST PRESENT FOR YOU ABOUT THAT DAY?

>> THE GOOD PART WAS AT THE END OF THE DAY, NANCY PELOSI SAYS WE ARE GOING TO THE FLOOR AND WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION AND WE ARE GOING TO CERTIFY JOE BIDEN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

147 REPUBLICANS INCLUDING THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION.

BUT IT WAS CERTIFIED.

AND SO AT THE END, THE INSURRECTION WAS DEFEATED BECAUSE THAT WAS THEIR GOAL WAS TO STOP THAT CERTIFICATION.

>> AND CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, THE PRESIDENT TODAY LAID BLAME SQUARELY WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR SPREADING THAT BIG LIE AND STOKING THAT ANGER AMONG SUPPORTERS AND ALSO WITH REPUBLICANS AND MEMBERS OF RIGHT-WING MEDIA THAT CONTINUE TO FAN THE FLAMES OF MISINFORMATION.

CAN THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE GET THROUGH WHEN WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION LANDSCAPE?

>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AND I'M GLAD HE SAID WHAT HE SAID.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NEVER GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

THEY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG LIE.

WE CANNOT LET PEOPLE FORGET WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY TRIED TO TAKE AWAY OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS DOING AND VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS AS THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE CAPITOL IS FORTIFIED NOW?

THAT THE CAPITOL POLICE ARE MORE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD A MOB MATERIALIZE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> WE DID HAVE A BRIEFING FROM THE CAPITOL POLICE AND THE SERGEANT AT ARMS THAT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CAPITOL ITSELF AND IN TERMS OF SECURITY AND SAFETY IS MUCH BETTER.

THAT WE ARE MUCH SAFER THAN WE WERE BEFORE AND IN ADDITION THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CAPITOL POLICE THAT ARE HIRED.

IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE, WE STILL HAVE TO SECURE OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SECURE VOTING RIGHTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IN OUR COUNTRY NEXT.

>> AND I WILL GET TO VOTING RIGHTS IN A SECOND AND ANOTHER PART IS THE JANUARY 6 SELECT COMMITTEE YOUR COLLEAGUE ADAM KINZINGER IS ON THAT AND MOVING SWIFTLY WITH SUBPOENAS.

WILL THEY HAVE A REPORT READY BEFORE THE MIDTERMS?

>> OH, DEFINITELY THEY WILL HAVE A REPORT READY.

I SPOKE TO CHAIRMAN THOMPSON AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD WITH LITTLE STOPPAGE DESPITE HOLIDAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET THE REPORT DONE.

THEY ARE VERY DETERMINED.

AND CONGRESSWOMAN JANUARY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOOK THE STEP TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS WITH RESPECT TO THAT DAY.

DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT SPEECH THAT HE IS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT SPOKE ON THE DAIS THAT DAY LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND JUSTIN RUDDELLDY GIULIANI.

>> THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE SPEECH TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS HARD AT WORK.

THAT'S ONLY ONE PART BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE IS DOING.

AND SO THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DID AND FROM THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD THOSE E-MAILS AND THE VOICE MAILS THAT WERE MADE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SHOW JUST HOW CULPABLE HE WAS AND OTHERS IN THE CONGRESS AS WELL.

>> AT THE SAME TIME CONGRESSWOMAN KELLY, "WASHINGTON POST" REPORT SAYS THAT ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF CONVICTED CAPITOL RIOTERS SAW THE JAIL TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN RECOMMENDING FOR THEM.

IS THIS APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT TO DETER FUTURE ACTION LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED NO MATTER IF THEY ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR NOT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET COOPERATION FROM THE COURTS AS FAR AS WHAT JAIL TIME THEY SHOULD HAVE.

>> AND CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY YOU BROUGHT UP VOTING RIGHTS.

BILLS THAT PASSED THE HOUSE AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE WILL VOTE TO ABOLISH THE FILIBUSTER FOR THIS AND REQUIRE ONLY 50 VOTES, 51 VOTES TO PASS A VOTING RIGHTS BILL?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT IS JOE MANCHIN'S BILL.

AND I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE THAT FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE A VOTE IN THE SENATE.

IF IT FAILS, AND IT PROBABLY WILL ON THE FIRST EFFORT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE RULES IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND TO GET IT PASSED WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY WHICH IS WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

>> AND TELL US WHAT THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT DOES.

THE SENATOR MANCHIN'S BILL.

THE BILL DOES TWO IMPORTANT THINGS.

ONE IT DOES GUARANTEE THAT VOTER SUPPRESSION RULE LAWS IN STATES WILL NOT BE LEGAL.

AND THAT IT ALSO MAKES SURE THAT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING WILL NOT BE ALLOWABLE.

AND ACTUALLY, A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WILL GUARANTEE THE SAFETY AND THE FAIRNESS OF THE VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS REALLY QUITE A COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

WE CAN'T HAVE THESE THE GERRYMANDERING AND WE CAN'T SUPPRESS THE VOTE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVETH THERE.

THANKS TO CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY AND CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT THE LATEST STOP IN OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" SERIES.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WHAT THE COUNTRY HAS LEARNED SINCE THE INSURRECTION.

>> AND ANDY DALTON IS SET TO START IN THE BEARS FINALE AFTER A POSITIVE COVID TEST RULES OUT JUST TIP FIELDS.

CLEARING IS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF MIDWAY AIRPORT.

AS PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES" REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND MARISSA NELSON SPENT THE DAY TALKING TO PEOPLE HOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS ADAPTING THROUGHOUT ALL THE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

JOANNA JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

>> FIRST I'M GLAD I'M INSIDE A LIBRARY BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.

THIS AREA IS A FAMILY ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOOD IT HAS A SUBURBAN FEEL.

THE RESIDENTS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE C.T.U.

AND THE C.P.S.

HOW STRESSFUL THAT HAS BEEN ON PARENTS.

WE SPOKE WITH SOME TODAY AND TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> THE STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING.

THEY'VE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA WITH COVID.

THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN LOSSES.

GETTING BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING SAFELY WOULD GO A LONG WAY.

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING.

>> ANGIE GAZDZIAK HER HUSBAND HAS BEEN A TEACHER FOR 10 YEARS AND UNDERSTANDS THEIR CONCERNS AND OFTEN TESTING NEEDS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES UP TO THE BATTLE THE MOMS BROUGHT UP THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> I STAND PROBABLY ALWAYS WITH THE WORKERS.

I THINK MYSELF AND EVERY OTHER PERSON WHO IS WORKING WANTS THEIR EMPLOYERS TO LISTEN TO THEM AND TO THEIR CONCERNS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE TEACHERS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE WITH OUR KIDS EVERYDAY IN THE SCHOOL.

AND IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS, AT THE VERY LEAST THEY SHOULD BE BEING LISTENED TO AND NOT DEMONIZED THAT IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.

>> AS PARENTS CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH COVID RELATED CHANGES OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE HOLDING ON.

FUNERAL HOMES HAVE BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL CHAPEL SAYS IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST YEARS IN HER CAREER WHEN WATCHING PEOPLE'S GRIEVING PROCESS CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE GUIDELINES.

>> I THINK A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES THAT WE'RE SERVING THAT LOST THEIR LOVED ONES TO THIS HAS BEEN -- COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDABLE IN A CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE.

WE'RE SEEING MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS, A HUSBAND AND A WIFE A MONTH APART.

IT'S TRULY HEARTBREAKING TO KNOW THAT THIS FAMILY NOT ONLY LOST ONE PARENT NOW THEY'VE LOST BOTH PARENTS BECAUSE OF THIS VIRUS.

>> NEARBY CAFE 63 HAS BECOME A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE COMMUNITY A PLACE THE OWNERS SAY BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND HELPED THE BUSINESS MAKE ENDS MEET.

THEY HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN CUSTOMERS BUT TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I ASKED WHAT THE REACTION WAS TO THE MANDATE... >> NOT AGAIN.

NOT AGAIN.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU ADAPT AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE.

AGAIN, IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR LOCALS HERE, I MEAN IT WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE TO TRY TO THINK OF GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

BUT BECAUSE WE WERE SUPPORTED SO WELL I'M CONFIDENT.

>> PEOPLE SHOW US THEIR VAX CARDS RIGHT AWAY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK THEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT'S THE RULE AND THEY WANT US TO SUCCEED.

>> LOCALS JOHN KURTOVITCH AND JULIE OLLRY REGULARS AT CAFE 63 ARE PART OF THE CLEARING NIGHT FORCE A WATCH GROUP FORMED TO HELP KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE THEY SHARE THE WORK THEY DO IS TO HELP RESIDENTS WITH THEIR CONCERNS.

>> YOU HAVE TO SAY WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE POLICE.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE STABILITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

I WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE WHEN SHE WALKS EVERYDAY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD I WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE IS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE KNOWING IT IS A SECURE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE DO THAT BY BEING INVOLVED.

>> CELEBRATING 25 YEARS, JUDY WHO WORKED WITH CATS AND HAS RETIRED SAYS THE GROUP HAS SEEN POSITIVE CHANGES BUT THEY ARE HAVING A HARDER TIME GETTING FAMILIES INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THEIR SCHEDULES.

HOWEVER JUDY WILL POST INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAS RECEIVED GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

>> EVEN THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE A CONTACT FORM AND PEOPLE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH US PRIVATELY AND I GET A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK ON IT SO PEOPLE SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU KNOW, SINCE I CAN'T GET INVOLVED BECAUSE I HAVE A YOUNG FAMILY AND TWO HOUSEHOLD INCOMES I DON'T HAVE THE TIME BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

AND THAT'S THE BEST WE COULD DO FOR RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THE CLEARING NIGHT FORCE IS SET TO START PATROLLING THE AREA IN MARCH AND STAY TUNED WE HAVE INTERESTING HISTORY ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMING UP.

BACK TO YOU.

>> WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU INDOORS AND KEEPING WARM BECAUSE IT IS BITTER OUT THERE.

SEE YOU IN A BIT.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT THE COUNTRY HAS LEARNED ABOUT FAR RIGHT EXTREMISM OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE IDEAS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE VIOLENT RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ARE ALIVE AND WELL.

A STUDY FROM THE CHICAGO PROJECT ON SECURITY AND THREATS SHOWS 21 MILLION AMERICANS 8% OF ADULTS IN THE COUNTRY SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY IS ILLEGITIMATE.

MANY OF THE IDEAS HAVE BECOME MORE MAINSTREAM AND THE EXTREME RIGHT HAS GAINED SUPPORTERS.

JOINING US ARE ROBERT PAPE PROFESSOR OF SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, ODETTE YOUSEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT ON EXTREME FOR NPR AND ALVIN TILLERY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECT FOR FOR THE STUDY OF DIVERSITY AND DEMOCRACY AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ALL THREE OF YOU.

ALVIN TILLERY, LOOKING BACK HOW DO YOU FEEL A YEAR AFTER THE INSURRECTION?

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN A MUCH WORSE PLACE ACTUALLY.

BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT IS GROWING STRONGER.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE TOP LEADERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND AS PROFESSOR PAPER'S WORK HAS SHOWN THE IDEAS ARE MORE MAINSTREAM BY A CONSTANT DIET OF DISINFORMATION PUT OUT BY THOSE PERPETUATING THAT COUP ATTEMPT.

>> ROBERT PAPE YOU CAME OUT WITH THE STUDY CALLED THE AMERICAN FACE OF THE INSURRECTION.

WHAT DID YOU FIND ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT?

>> THE KEY FINDING IS THAT THE INSURRECTION THAT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 6 WAS PERPETRATED BY MAINSTREAM AMERICA.

OVER HALF OF THE ABOUT 700 THAT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH BREAKING INTO THE CAPITOL OVER HALF ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, C.E.O.S AND FROM WHITE-COLLAR OCCUPATIONS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS AND MANAGERS.

ONLY 7% WHO ARE CHARGED WERE UNEMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF JANUARY 6.

ONLY 13% WERE MEMBERS OF MILITIA GROUPS LIKE THE PROUD BOYS.

THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WE'RE USED TO SEEING WITH RIGHT-WING VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE UNITED STATES, OR REALLY IN EUROPE OR AROUND THE WORLD.

WHERE A QUARTER OR MORE ARE UNEMPLOYED, WHERE HALF ARE ARE TYPICALLY CONNECTED WITH SKINHEAD GANGS OR OTHER MILITANT GROUPS.

THEY ARE NOT -- PEOPLE WHO BROKE IN AND STORMED THE CAPITOL ARE FROM MAINSTREAM AMERICA AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S DISTURBING AND IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WE'RE USED TO THINKING ABOUT WITH RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM.

>> AND YOU FOUND THEY COME FROM 45 STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY MOSTLY FROM COUNTIES THAT WENT FOR JOE BIDEN INSTEAD OF DONALD TRUMP.

ODETTE HOW HAS THE FAR RIGHT BEEN ABLE TO GAIN SUPPORTERS IN THE PAST YEAR AND MAINTAIN THIS PARANOIA AFTER THE ELECTION?

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK IN THE WEEKS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RIOT AT THE CAPITOL THERE WAS A QUIETING OF THOSE VOICES.

KEY VOICES SUCH AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WERE DEPLATFORMED FROM TWITTER.

SOME OF THE HUBS ON-LINE WHERE THEY GATHERED PARLOR, LOST THEIR HOSTING SERVICES.

AND THERE WAS THAT PARANOIA YOU MENTIONED ABOUT PUBLIC GATHERING.

SO MANY WERE CANCELED.

WHAT WE SAW PARTICULARLY STARTING IN THE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER IS A NEW SORT OF STRATEGY THAT WAS DECENTRALIZED AND MORE FOCUSED ON GLOMMING ON TO A CULTURAL WAR ISSUES AT LOCAL LEVELS.

YOU SAW FAR RIGHT GROUPS SHOW UP AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS TO PROTEST AGAINST MASK MANDATES OR SHOWING UP IN FRONT OF CITY HALLS TO PROTEST AGAINST VACCINE MANDATES.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS YOU HAD A MIXING OF PEOPLE FROM THE FAR RIGHT THROUGH WITH JUST THE MORE MAINSTREAM AMERICANS THAT ROBERT WAS REFERRING TO.

AND WITH THAT MIXING, WE STARTED TO SEE THE MORE EXTREME IDEAS GAIN TRACTION.

THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING SORT OF GRASSROOTS DECENTRALIZED APPROACH THAT IS SPREADING SOME OF THE BELIEFS THAT DROVE THE RIOTS AT THE CAPITOL.

>> ALVIN TILLERY GIVE US CONTEXT HOW HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT IS THIS MOMENT WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTERS RIGHTS?

>> WELL, PROFESSOR PAPE'S RESEARCH IS A GREAT FRAME ON THE ISSUE.

BUT HIS FINDINGS DON'T SURPRISE ME THAT MUCH BECAUSE WHITE SUPREMACY HAS BEEN A MAINSTREAM PROBLEM IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE THINK ABOUT EXTREMIST VIOLENCE THAT LED TO STORMING OF THE CAPITOL MANY OF THE MOTIVATIONS LED TO EXTREMIST VIOLENCE IN THE 40s, 50s AND 60s AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE TRYING TO MAKE US A MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY FOR THE FIRST TIME BY GETTING VOTING RIGHTS.

THERE IS A BRIGHT LINE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SORT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE CHANGING FACE AND DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTRY AND THE MOTIVATIONS OF THESE PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE OLD MOTIVATIONS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY.

THAT TALKS ABOUT MASK MANDATES BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE DISRUPTED ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY BECAUSE THE BOOGIE MAN OF TELLING PEOPLE WE ARE A SOCIETY PREDICATED ON 97 TRILLION WORTH OF FREE LABOR FROM SLAVES BETWEEN 1719 AND 1895 THIS TELLS YOU WHAT THE MOTIVATIONS ARE.

IT IS ABOUT THEIR DISCOMFORT WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW AS A MAJORITY MINORITY SOCIETY.

>> ROBERT PAPE ALONG WITH THE DISBELIEF IN ELECTION RESULTS MANY INSURRECTIONSISTS FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES.

THE GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY AND THE QANON THEORY.

TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BELIEVING IN THE TWO THEORIES.

>> SO RACE IS DEFINITELY A DRIVER THAT WE'RE FINDING IN OUR STUDIES.

IN THE 21 MILLION, YOU MENTIONED IN OUR STUDIES WE FOUND 21 MILLION AMERICANS HOLDING THE RADICAL INSURRECTION SENTIMENTS SIMILAR TO THOSE WHO STORMED THE CAPITOL.

THE NUMBER ONE BELIEF IN THE 21 MILLION FULLY 75% OF THE 21 MILLION IS THE IDEA OF THE GREAT REPLACEMENT.

THE IDEA THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE LIBERALS IN GENERAL ARE DELIBERATELY FLOODING THE COUNTRY WITH PEOPLE FROM THE THIRD WORLD SO THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE SO THAT WHITES WILL BECOME A MINORITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT BELIEF HAS BEEN A RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY THEORY FOR A LONGTIME.

MUCH MORE ON THE FRINGES OF OUR SOCIETY FOR A LONGTIME.

WHAT IS REALLY STRIKING IS TO SEE THIS AGREED TO IN OPINION SURVEYS AND MULTIPLE ONES OVER TIME BY THIS MASS NUMBER OF FOLKS.

THIS IS REALLY QUITE STRIKING TO SEE AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED GOING FORWARD THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA, POPULAR PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA WHO ARE EMBRACING THE RIGHT-WING THEORY OF THE GREAT REPLACEMENT.

THERE ARE POLITICIANS, MAINSTREAM POLITICIANS.

>> AND BEFORE -- >> AND THIS IS THE COCKTAIL WE HAVE WHICH IS TURNING.

-- >> WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

ODETTE YOUSEF WHY STNT'S IT POSSIBLE FOR TO USE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DEPLATFORMING TO GET OUT OF THIS WHY IS THAT NOT THE ANSWER?

>> WELL IT'S FOR THE VERY REASON THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING ABOUT THE MAINSTREAMING OF THIS PHENOMENON.

YOU KNOW THE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST SURVEILLANCE OF PARTICULARLY TARGETED POPULATIONS, RELYING ON PEOPLE TO FLAG IF THEY KNOW INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT OF IF THEY KNOW PLANNING AROUND ANY VIOLENT ACTIVITY.

IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO USE THOSE TOOLS WHEN THERE IS AS ROBERT WAS SAYING THE MASS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THERE IS A GROWTH IN SUPPORT AMONG JUST REGULAR AMERICANS TO USE VIOLENCE TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL ACTS.

>> IN A COUNTRY WE ARE FREE TO THINK WHAT WE LIKE IT'S DIFFICULT TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS.

THANK YOU ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT WE CHECK BACK IN WITH JOANNA HERNANDEZ IN THE CLEARING NEIGHBORHOOD.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AND NOW WE GO BACK TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ WHO SPENT THE DAY IN CLEARING ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

>> THANKS.

WE ARE HERE WITH ROB BITUNJAC PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND BRANCH MANAGER OF THE CLEARING LIBRARY.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HOST OUR SHOW FROM HERE ON THIS COLD NIGHT.

>> NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

>> I WANT TO START OFF WITH CAN YOU TELL US HOW CLEARING GOT ITS NAME IT'S FROM A RAILROAD.

>> IN THE 1880s THE RAILROADS WERE EXPANDING IN AMERICA.

A MAN NAMED AB STICKNY CHARTERED OUT THIS AREA IT WAS NOT PART OF THE CITY HE WANTED TO MOVE THE RAIL YARDS AND THE STOCKYARDS AND GOT MOST OF THE PEOPLE ONBOARD BUT IT NEVER CAME TO FRUITION.

AT ONE POINT IT FAILED BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND THEN HE SOLD IT.

AT ONE POINT IT WAS CALLED THE CHICAGO AND CLEARING RAIL YARDS BECAUSE TRAINS WOULD COME IN AND CLEAR THE GOODS OFF THE TRAIN AND OUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WHEN PEOPLE STARTED LIVING HERE IN THE EARLY 1900'S THEY STARTED TO CALL IT CLEARING AND IT CAUGHT ON AND THERE WAS A TOWN OF CLEARING FOR A FEW YEARS AND THE CITY INCORPORATED IT IN 1915.

>> MIDWAY AIRPORT IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATION HERE.

WHAT IMPACT DID IT HAVE ON CLEARING WHEN IT OPENED IN 1925?

>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW THE TWO BIG THINGS ARE THE RAIL YARDS AND THE TRAINS AND THE PLANES.

THE LAND WHERE MIDWAY AIRPORT IS WAS SET ASIDE OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

IT WAS A SQUARE MILE THAT WAS SET ASIDE AND WAS MAINTAINED ONE OF THE FEW THAT WERE MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS.

SO WHEN THE CITY WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE FOR AN AIRPORT, THAT WAS THE PERFECT PLACE.

IN FACT I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY THE CITY INCORPORATED THIS AREA IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF CHICAGO THIS AREA STICKS OUT FURTHER WEST.

YES, OBVIOUSLY IT HAD A BIG IMPACT FOR JOBS.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY, PUN INTENDED TOOK OFF.

AND THE AIRPORT EXPANDED WELL BEYOND WHAT THEY THOUGHT AND CAME TO ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE SQUARE MILE THAT IT DOES TODAY.

>> HOW HAS CLEARING CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

IT USED TO BE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN?

>> IT USED TO BE FARMLAND.

A LOT OF STREETS WERE NOT LAID OUT YET.

WE DIDN'T HAVE L SERVICE UNTIL 1993 WITH THE ORANGE LINE.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED IT'S CUTOFF FORGOTTEN PART OF THE CITY.

BUT NOW, WITH THE AIRPORT COMING BACK, MIDWAY AIRPORT WAS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT AND IT WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WHERE IT WAS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE AND WHEN THEY DEREGULATED THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY ALL THE AIRLINES CAME BACK AND NOW MIDWAY IS BACK ON TRACK.

JOBS ARE GOOD.

AND IT'S SORT OF PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WARY THAT THE AIRPORT IS GOING TO EXPAND, BUT IT HASN'T.

IT'S ALWAYS STAYED THERE AND ALWAYS BEEN A WAY OF US IDENTIFYING OURSELVES WE SAY WE'RE FROM MIDWAY OR BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE'RE CLEARING OR GARFIELD RIDGES SO THEY WILL SAY MIDWAY.

IT'S BEEN A WAY TO IDENTIFY OURSELF.

>> AND LAST QUESTION.

YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY THAT DATES BACK GENERATIONS.

I WANT TO ASK WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> I LOVE THAT WE'RE OUT OF THE MAIN PART OF THE CITY.

IT IS LESS CONGESTED PARKING IS GOOD.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL PLACES TO EAT.

WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS HERE.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE SUBURBS WE GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WE GET CITY AMENITIES ALONG WITH SUBURBAN AMENITIES AS WELL.

FOR ME, I'M SO FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA WHEN I GO TO OTHER AREAS IT SEEMS LIKE I AM IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY I LIKE LIVING IN THIS AREA.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL FOR US HERE IN CLEARING.

PARIS BACK TO YOU.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT TODAY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CLEARING IS THERE ANYTHING WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO YET?

>> THERE IS A FUN FACT THAT I LEARNED.

I LEARNED THAT KOOL-AID WAS INVENTED HERE IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

HOW COOL IS THAT?

KOOL-AID IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST DRINK TO HAVE BECAUSE IT IS FREEZING BUT THAT WAS A COOL FACT THAT I LEARNED TODAY.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE KOOL-AID.

>> QUEUE THE KOOL-AID GUY BURSTING THROUGH THE BOOKS.

>> KEEP IT DOWN YOU ARE IN THE LIBRARY.

>> GREAT JOB AND WE'RE GLAD YOU STAYED WARM.

>> BRANDIS WITH A PREVIEW OF THE BEARS SEASON FINALE.

>> THE CHICAGO BEARS AIM TO END A DISAPPOINTING SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE BY BEATING THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS SUNDAY IN WHAT COULD BE MATT NAGY'S LAST GAME AS THE TEAM'S HEAD COACH.

>> JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE SEASON FINALE IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS.

WELCOME BACK JAMES.

>> HI.

>> BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING GAME, LET'S GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ROBERT QUINN WHO BROKE THE SINGLE SEASON SACK RECORD BY RECORDING HIS 18TH SACK AGAINST THE GIANTS LAST SUNDAY.

HOW IMPRESSIVE IS IT FOR HIM TO PULL IT OFF DESPITE PLAYING ON A DISAPPOINTING TEAM?

>> IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK OF GUYS THAT HAVE A LOT OF SACKS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A HIGH POWERED OFFENSE THAT IS ABLE TO PUT UP A LOT OF POINTS AND THE DEFENSE IS ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PIN THEIR EARS BACK.

ROBERT QUINN DID IT WITH NEVER KNOWING WHETHER IT WAS GOING TO BE RUN OR PASS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HOLD THE LEAD VERY OFTEN.

HE HAD TO PLAY BOTH AND HE PLAYED BOTH VERY WELL.

IT WAS FUN TO WATCH.

YOU KNOW AS AN EXFOOTBALL PLAYER IT WAS FUN TO WATCH HIM HUSTLE AND GIDDY UP HE HAD.

>> I LOVE TO WATCH THE GIDDY UP.

LAST GAME COMING UP AND THERE ARE REPORTS IT WILL BE MATT NAGY'S LAST GAME AS BEARS HEAD COACH.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS HIS TIME AS HEAD COACH OF THE BEARS?

>> WELL, IF IT IS HIS FINAL SEASON AS THE BEARS HEAD COACH, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO -- THEY BROUGHT HIM IN FOR A PURPOSE.

THEY HAD A YOUNG QUARTERBACK THAT THEY WANTED TO DEVELOPMENT THEY HAD AN OFFENSE THAT NEEDED WORK.

AND YOU KNOW, NONE OF THOSE THINGS GOT DONE.

MITCH TRUBISKY DID NOT END UP PANNING OUT.

THE OFFENSE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SCORE MORE THAN 17 POINTS A GAME.

HE DIDN'T GET DONE WHAT HE NEEDED TO GET DONE.

AND HE IS A GREAT GUY AND THE PLAYERS LOVE HIM BUT WINS ARE LOSSES IS WHAT GETS IT DONE IN THE NFL.

>> JERRY AZUMAH TOOK TO TWITTER TO SUGGEST THAT THE BEARS NEED TO START GETTING INPUT FROM FORMER PLAYERS ON WHAT THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO DO TO GET BETTER.

IF YOU WERE OFFERING ADVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION WHERE WOULD YOU START?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO -- I DON'T THINK IT IS HE SOMETHING THAT THE BEARS DON'T KNOW.

THE UPSTAIRS THE BRASS OF THE BEARS THEY KNOW THAT THINGS ARE NOT LOOKED WELL FOR A LONGTIME NOW.

AND THE ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED HAS BEEN UPSTAIRS.

THE PEOPLE DOING THE HIRING AND THE FIRING.

THEY NEED HELP.

AND THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO GET BETTER IN ORDER TO GET THIS ORGANIZATION BACK INTO THE PRIME THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

IF THAT MEANS BRINGING IN EXPLAYERS THAT PLAYED THE GAME THAT ARE STILL IN CONTACT WITH THE GAME AND KNOW PEOPLE TO PUT BUG NOTICE THEIR EAR -- BUGS IN THEIR EAR IT CAN'T HURT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> LOOKING AHEAD TO THE GAME AGAINST THE VIKINGS MATT NAGY INTENDED TO START JUSTIN FIELDS BUT HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID ANDY DALTON WILL START.

HE HAD A GOOD OUTING AGAINST THE GIANTS.

DO YOU THINK THE BEARS WILL WANT TO BRING HIM BACK AS THE BACKUP TO FIELDS?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN AFFORD TO.

YOU HAVE SO MANY NEEDS.

YOU HAVE NICK FOLES UNDER CONTRACT WHO WOULD BE A GOOD VOICE IN THE QUARTERBACK ROOM.

BUT I DON'T SEE WHY DAT TOP WOULD START THIS WEEK.

HE IS NOT SOMEBODY YOU ARE GOING TO BRING BACK.

USE FOLES HE A GOOD GAME AGAINST SEATTLE AND TRY TO GET A WIN BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.

AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT COACH, NEXT GM, WHOEVER THEY BRING IN WANTS TO DO.

>> NEXT FRONT OFFICE.

VIKINGS WERE TROUNCED BY THE PACKERS IN THE LAST GAME.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE MATCHUP THIS WEEK?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING BUT UNINTERESTING GAME.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO TEAMS THAT HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO HIT THE FIELD WITH A LOOT OF FIRE -- LOT OF FIRE BUT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN DISARRAY.

BOTH TEAMS WILL BE LOOKING FOR NEW HEAD COACHES, NEW GENERAL MANAGERS.

YOU KNOW ALL THAT HAS TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT.

THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING ON SUNDAY ARE AUDITIONING FOR THE VIKINGS FOR THE BEARS AND FOR ALL THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE NFL RIGHT NOW.

I EXPECT TO SEE A LOT AND HOPEFULLY A LOT OF YOUNG PLAYERS AS WELL.

>> BIG BOLD PREDICTION?

>> THE BEARS CAN PULL THIS OFF.

I THINK THEY WILL GET A DOSE OF RUN AND IF THEY CAN STOP THE RUN OR SLOW IT DOWN THEY STAND A GOOD CHANCE.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THE BEARS A 17-9 WIN OVER THE VIKINGS.

>> 17-9 WIN.

>> I LOVE YOU ALMOST ALWAYS ROOT FOR THE BEARS OBVIOUSLY.

JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND BIG CAT WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY EVENING TO GIVE US HIS TIME THOUGHTS ON THE BEARS SEASON.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT IS 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 WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

>> AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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