Free Republic

LIVE COVERAGE: Widespread damage reported in downtown Chicago after night of looting Chicago News / 35 mins ago CHICAGO — Widespread damage is reported in downtown Chicago after looting and rioting began around midnight. Witnesses report hundreds of people smashing their way into stores throughout Michigan Avenue, areas in the South Loop and the near North Side. WGN’s Judy Wang was on the scene early and reported seeing people filling trash bags with merchandise. She also saw crowd trashing the streets outside the stores and turning over garbage cans. 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins told WGN he witnessed people driving...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Police in a small San Francisco Bay Area community were about to help authorities in neighboring Oakland keep the peace during a protest when a more pressing crisis hit home: groups of thieves were pillaging malls, setting fire to a Walmart and storming a car dealership. By the time San Leandro officers arrived at the Dodge dealership, dozens of cars were gone and thieves were peeling out of the lot in $100,000 Challenger Hellcat muscle cars. Nearly 75 vehicles were stolen Sunday, including models driven through glass showroom doors to escape. “It was very strategic,” Sgt....