Two female Democratic elected officials carjacked at gunpoint in 24-hour period

A U.S. Congresswoman and an Illinois state Senator were victims of carjackings within 24 hours of each other in different major cities, both of which are experiencing crime waves amid pandemic lockdowns and efforts to “defund the police.”  

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) was carjacked in Philadelphia, PA on Wednesday afternoon by two young adult Black males, who approached before demanding she hand over her keys, phone and purse.

"Wednesday afternoon, at around 2:45 p.m., Congresswoman Scanlon was carjacked at gunpoint in FDR Park following a meeting at that location," Scanlon’s office said in a statement. "The Congresswoman was physically unharmed. She thanks the Philadelphia Police Department for their swift response, and appreciates the efforts of both the Sergeant at Arms in D.C. and her local police department for coordinating with Philly PD to ensure her continued safety."

Scanlon represents Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of South Philadelphia. She has taken public stands for police reform, like a tweet following George Floyd’s death in May 2020 saying, “We have seen too many lives taken and communities devastated by police brutality and racial profiling.”

We have seen too many lives taken and communities devastated by police brutality and racial profiling. Action is long overdue. @HouseDemocrats are fighting for REAL reform in our country’s police departments. #JusticeInPolicing pic.twitter.com/IS9n6LZXCg

— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) June 8, 2020

Five teenagers were arrested one state over in Delaware after they were spotted driving Scanlon’s stolen Acura SUV at a Newark strip mall. One was just 13 years old.

Crime has been surging in the city. The Philadelphia Police Department has reported a 13% increase in homicides this year compared to 2020, and there has also been a 4.4% increase in incidents involving a shooting. Police also said it had seen an increase in carjackings of at least 80% so far this year compared to 2020.

Scanlon’s incident was not the only carjacking to happen within a 24-hour period. On Tuesday evening, Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightford and her husband were carjacked in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, IL, by three masked men who blocked the couple’s Mercedes with a truck.

No one was harmed, but at least one of the suspects fired gunshots at Lightford’s husband, according to police.

Chicago has also seen a surge in crime, with some neighborhoods seeing over a 100% increase in fatal shootings. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who proposed cutting $80 million from the city police’s budget last year, pleaded on Tuesday for federal assistance to help control crime in her city.