So-called “teen takeovers” have been a popular trend among some young people for years, and the large gatherings are already making headlines again as summer approaches.

The latest meetup happened last weekend when a crowd of hundreds of teens congregated in Streeterville. One teen was shot while another was stabbed, and multiple police officers were injured trying to break up the group.

This chaotic scene reignited a debate on the citywide curfew for unaccompanied minors with calls to change the current curfew from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m..

Mayor Brandon Johnson has said banning teens from downtown after 8 p.m. would only shift the problem to other communities, rather than addressing the root cause of the problem. 

Youth advocates argue more resources are needed to curb the teen takeover trend.

“I feel like the curfews aren’t working, so why are we trying to enforce it again?” said Nikya Harrell, 23, a youth leader at BUILD, a West Side nonprofit aimed at violent prevention and youth development. “When are we going to have a sit down and actually talk and ask what’s going on? Why do you guys feel the need to do this?”

Harrell credits her time at BUILD as the reason she’s found healthy and safe activities to do in her free time. She thinks many of the young people who attend the teen takeovers don’t have structure in their lives like a positive adult mentor or job to keep them occupied.

Supporters of the earlier curfew believe it could prevent the mass gatherings and curb youth violence.

“The 10 p.m. curfew is actually an effective tool,” said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), who represents Streeterville. “I was out there last week and I personally witnessed police officers enforcing the 10 p.m. curfew shortly after the 10 o’clock hour passed and it had a chilling effect on some of the chaos and mayhem that was happening.”

According to Hopkins, both takeovers that occurred last month involved gunfire and multiple injuries with the shootings happening shortly after 8 p.m.

By shifting the curfew up, Hopkins said these incidents could have been avoided.

“These [curfews] are for 12, 13, 14 year olds on the streets of downtown at 9, 10, 11 o’clock at night with no supervision,” said Hopkins. “In any organized society, it is simply not acceptable. Children need supervision”

The curfew restrictions are specifically for unaccompanied minors without adult supervision. It doesn’t pertain to individuals going to work or going to an organized, ticketed event.

Those opposed to the change cite juvenile curfews as ineffective at addressing the problem’s root cause.

“We need to develop more programming, more opportunities, more spaces for young people,” said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward). He calls the curfew a “draconian solution” that will cause even more defiance and embolden young people to make more poor decisions.

Sigcho-Lopez said more investment from state and city governments is part of the solution, particularly under a federal administration that’s slashing resources for programs created for at-risk youth.

“The kids are not doing well,” said Sigcho-Lopez. “I’m listening to the young people and they say the curfews are not working. These kids need our leadership in this moment.”

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