The Chicago Cubs have assured fans that they will be able to “safely enter” Wrigley Field despite the threat of a left-wing protest planned for August 2.
Last week, several Chicago activist groups, including the Coalition for a New Chicago and Violence Interrupters, announced plans for a march set to kick off on August 2. The groups say they will shut down the city’s busy Lake Shore Drive and head toward Wrigley Field, the stadium where the Chicago Cubs will be playing that day.
March organizer, Dr. Gregory Livingston, has not announced if the marchers plan to try to gain entry to the ballpark once they arrive on Thursday evening, but Chicago Cubs officials are assuring fans that the march will not prevent them from entering the park and that officials intend to keep the game on schedule and free of interruption.
On Tuesday, Cubs spokesman Julian Green said season ticket holders “can safely enter and exit Wrigley Field without interruption” but did warn fans not to use Lake Shore Drive to get to the park, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The groups planning Thursday’s march are far more militant than the group that shut down a busy highway that feeds into the city early this month. That group, led by activist Catholic priest Father Michael Pfleger, even elicited the support of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
But the groups led by Dr. Livingston have not sought Emanuel’s imprimatur for their march. Indeed, one of their goals is to force Emanuel and Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to resign due to the spiraling gang violence and growing murder rate befalling the Windy City.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.