Shouts, tears, boos from crowd force recess of City Council committee meeting during heated migrant debate

Tuesday meeting of the Chicago City Council’s Rules Committee saw more chaos and shouting from the public in the Council chambers as committee members debated whether to place a referendum on the March ballot that would allow voters to weigh in on how the city responds to the migrant crisis. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times)

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s allies tried Tuesday to approve their own, softer version of a non-binding referendum on Chicago’s burgeoning migrant crisis, but failed after being shouted down by an angry crowd ordered forcibly removed from City Council chambers.

“Sergeant-at-arms, clear the room,” Rules Committee Chair Michelle Harris (8th) shouted after Chicagoans opposed to housing the new arrivals shouted down Council members on both sides of the issue.