Chicago will be hosting its first-ever "New Year's Rockin' Eve" event, and that's something that the city's Democrat mayor, Brandon Johnson, is very excited about.
What he's not excited about, however, is the very real possibility that the nationally televised event could be overshadowed by the type of all-too-common violent incidents that took place the night of the Windy City's Millennium Park Christmas tree lighting ceremony in late November, which saw a 14-year-old killed and eight others injured in two different shooting incidents after the lighting took place.
Further, there were the shootings that happened across the city over the Christmas holiday weekend, with headlines like this one from the Chicago Sun-Times not exactly being the ones city "leaders" want you to see:
Nothing says Merry Christmas in Democrat run Chicago like 28 people getting shot. 6 fatally. pic.twitter.com/kfOxSZKI1n
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) December 29, 2025
So with all of that undoubtedly in mind, Johnson put out a video message on Monday in which he pleaded with the city's youth not to embarrass his city on a national stage the night of the New Year's Rockin' Eve celebration, while strongly urging their parents to coordinate with them so they'd know their whereabouts.
After remarks from "youth leader" Damarion Spann on how it was important to celebrate the New Year in the "right way," Johnson touted so-called "outreach workers" who he said would be on hand "throughout the Riverwalk" who could "help calm situations that may feel unsafe or overwhelming."
Perhaps most telling, however, was Johnson's embrace of curfews for young people between the ages of 12 and 17 that he had previously rejected as ineffective and once characterized as a "sin of the past."
"Everyone needs to be responsible and respectful," Johnson proclaimed, while later confirming his fears of national embarrassment by again stressing to parents to keep track of where their kids are, as it would "play a vital role in making our New Year's celebration a national success."
Watch:
Chicago, check in with young people in your family and talk through their New Year's Eve plans. Hear from youth leader, Damarion, on how to stay safe and be responsible.
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) December 29, 2025
Download the My Chi. My Future. app to find safe spaces and opportunities across the city. pic.twitter.com/l3yxITKmdb
Understandably, Johnson's message was mocked by some on social media:
We will have social workers available if you’re going to get shot. So before you get shot notify a social worker, they will de-escalate the situation! Thanks for coming to Chicago! https://t.co/1a3PrvpyUu
— Leroy Brown (@lb19769) December 31, 2025
Sheesh. Chicago's Mayor has to put out a video effectively begging youth not to riot and shoot people downtown on New Year's Eve.https://t.co/mzkj1xzXaI
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) December 31, 2025
Needless to say, if Chicago were truly as "safe" as Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) tried to make it out to be while rejecting Trump's calls for National Guard help, videos like this wouldn't need to be made. I mean, as noted above, he was practically begging the city's young people not to act out while the cameras were on downtown. Think about it.
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