Downtown Chicago businesses board up ahead of Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO — A number of businesses in the city’s business district have covered windows and doors with plywood to better protect the buildings should demonstrations during next week’s Democratic National Convention turn unruly.

Crews with a business called Chicago Board Up Services say they’ve boarded up at least a dozen locations around the West Loop, downtown and Daley Plaza and have plans to work on additional businesses weekend.

“If you feel you’re in any type of line where you feel there’s going to be a lot of commotion — we’re not pushing it — we’re hoping the city will be comfortable and there wont be no unrest. But if you feel you want your doors boarded, it’s better to have them boarded up than have to wait and replace glass,” said business manager Vicki Fichter.

If a business is considering it, Fichter recommended they take action ahead of time but said her crews will be available next week should anything come up.

In a sit-down interview with WGN on Thursday, Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling said his officers are better trained and better prepared to handle any violence that erupts than they were four years ago in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

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