Lynwood issued a one-day cease and desist order to close Lynwood Sports Center on Thursday to prevent a “teen takeover” event that police feared would lead to violence, but event organizers are disputing that narrative.
The village learned of the planned event Sunday from a promotional video shared on social media, police Chief Gregory Thomas said. Police found the comments on the video alarming, he said.
“The language promoted violence, it promoted chaos,” Thomas said. “A lot of language that was associated with the post is very consistent with what we’re learning in the law enforcement intelligence to show that these events usually become chaotic, and law enforcement typically are caught off guard.”
An fundraiser called Unity in the Community organized by Citizens for Nicole Gooden was scheduled from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the roller rink, according to advertising on social media.
Gooden, a real estate broker who said she plans to run for mayor of Harvey in next year’s municipal election, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but disputed the police characterization of the event as a teen takeover in an interview livestreamed on social media.
“They’re indicating that there’s a teen takeover, and that’s not the case,” Gooden said.
The village also ordered a backup location, Lynwood Bowl, not to open Thursday, Thomas said.
The roller rink posted on its Facebook page that due to the village and its concern of a “teen takeover,” the village decided to close the business down Thursday.
Lynwood Roller Rink did not respond to requests for comment.
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Thomas said the cease and desist orders were also for the benefit of the businesses.
“It also would help us to ensure that we don’t have mass damage on the inside of these establishments, and will give them the opportunity to open the next day and have normal business operation,” Thomas said.
Teen takeover events have led to violence and criminal charges in Chicago and its suburbs in the past. Last week, four juveniles were arrested on battery charges stemming from a gathering in downtown Naperville.
Gooden planned to reschedule her fundraiser, she said in the livestream, as she wasn’t able to move it to a different venue due to the short notice.
“This is really infringing upon a lot of rights, right now. Your constitutional right, your rights to assemble,” Gooden said. “This is a private place. They’re in business to service the community. Some kids are out on spring break. Why can’t we all have a Unity in the Community event?”
The cease and desist order cited reckless and disorderly conduct as its reasons, Gooden said.
“How can you even make that assumption when the event didn’t even occur?” Gooden said. “That’s profiling.”
Event organizers who wanted to put together large-scale peaceful gatherings needed to coordinate with law enforcement, Thomas said.
“This was a forced hand, on our behalf, to react, to serve public safety,” he said. “We have a process in place for large-scale events, that, if it meets our criteria, that we would allow it, but it must meet our public safety mandates first.”