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Whittier Elementary Afternoon Update

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 23, 2011 9:20PM

With the reports coming in from Whittier Elementary, I took another trip over to the Pilsen school this afternoon. The police presence lacking last night was out in full force this afternoon, but they maintained a respectful distance to allow the Whittier Parents Committee to have their protest and comment to the media about their wishes to sit down with CPS officials to discuss their plans for the fieldhouse.

There were rumblings from the Whittier parents Mayor Emanuel and CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard were meeting with constituents at a nearby YMCA. At the west end of the fieldhouse a dumptruck was parked, unable (or unwilling) to risk escalating the situation further. As for the seeming missing in action Danny Solis, Our own Kevin Robinson reports that the 25th Ward Alderman's staff indicates he wishes to meet with the parents to come to a resolution.

I've included a video of the protest and unedited audio of this afternoon's media conference.