Prairie State Wire

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that a mass shooting in Chicago's River North highlights ongoing violence even in traditionally safe areas of Democrat-led cities. This statement was made on X.

"Chicago: 18 shot in one incident, four dead. In River North, a supposedly “safe” and upscale part of the city," said Cortes. "Get out of the blue cities. Now!"

A July 2025 shooting in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, drew national attention and intensified local debate about gun violence. Officials and residents have called for stronger enforcement and new safety strategies in the city’s upscale districts.

According to the Chicago Police Department, there were 42 mass shooting incidents and a homicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000 residents in Chicago for 2024–2025. This represents a slight increase from the previous year and is evidence of the city’s persistent gun violence challenges.

A 2025 Urban Institute report indicates that violent crime in upscale Chicago neighborhoods like River North and Lincoln Park rose by 17% over the last two years. This trend mirrors increases in affluent areas of New York and Los Angeles.

Cortes is Founder and President of the League of American Workers and senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He previously served as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, and has been a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.

According to its official website, the League of American Workers was founded in 2022 with a mission to support public safety, stronger law enforcement, and crime prevention policies as part of its advocacy for American workers.