Following days of massive peaceful protest throughout the city that ended with nights of looting and hundreds of arrests leaving many businesses boarded up and hollowed out, residents in Chicago’s largely Hispanic neighborhoods such as Back of the Yards, some gang members, have taken to the streets to enact vigilante justice against suspected looters.

Following the gang vigilante shooting of an African American Back of the Yards resident, Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th ward, partially comprised of Back of the Yards and West Englewood, asked Sheriff Tom Dart to assist in regaining control of the community.

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Prior to the start of an evening recap, Lopez told aldermen that while it might sound good that people are stepping up, the danger of gangs patrolling communities using skin color as an identifier would be very dangerous.

At approximately 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, a 49-year-old resident traveling home with his daughter and son-in-law were approached by a juvenile gang member who asked them, “What are you doing in this neighborhood?”

Additional incidents in the community of Cicero have raised even greater alarms, with residents alleging that Cicero police are allowing the gangs to roam the streets and lay down vigilante justice.