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Tense moments at St. Adalbert's Church as woman confronts workers over stained glass removal"
Residents say St. Adalbert's has been the cornerstone of the Mexican and Polish communities for more than a century. Many of them marched Tuesday, saying that they are determined to not let anything happen to the church.
CHICAGO - A woman was removed from a historical Pilsen church Tuesday after refusing to leave the property and confronting workers who were allegedly removing stained glass windows.
At about 2:27 p.m., Chicago police officers responded to St. Adalbert's Church located in the 1600 block of West 17th Street for a call of a person who refused to leave the property.
When officers arrived, they informed the woman multiple times that it was unlawful to enter and remain on the property.
Police say they gave multiple lawful orders to vacate the property, however, she refused to comply.
Residents say St. Adalbert's has been the cornerstone of the Mexican and Polish communities for more than a century. Many of them marched Tuesday, saying that they are determined to not let anything happen to the church.
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Chicago Landmarks Commission grants preliminary landmark designation to St. Adalbert's Church
The Chicago Landmarks Commission voted unanimously Monday to grant preliminary landmark designation to St. Adalbert's Church in Pilsen, which was closed by the Chicago Archdiocese in 2016.
The friends of the woman who refused to leave the property said she went inside the church to stop workers from removing stained glass windows.
"She got inside, then they closed the door with her. They don't want to let her go until their bosses gonna come," said Izabella Sadowka, a church supporter. "She wants to confront them and let them know, they shouldn't work over there, they shouldn't destroy this church, because there is a landmark."
Police say the woman was eventually taken into custody and charges are pending.
On Monday, the Chicago Landmark Commission voted unanimously to grant the building preliminary landmark status. Residents have been fighting to save the church since the Archdiocese closed it in 2019.
There are still other approvals that are needed before the church is granted full landmark approval.
The Archdiocese of Chicago sent a statement saying: "The parish is completing work it started a week ago to protect the property and the sacred items in the church which were being repeatedly vandalized and destroyed. The need to protect the items was reinforced as the church was broken into again today. The preliminary landmark status vote by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks does not affect the efforts of St. Paul Parish to protect these items."