Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago made headlines by blaming former President Richard Nixon for the city’s ongoing crime problem, following a violent holiday weekend that saw 19 fatalities and over 100 people injured in shootings.
During a press conference addressing the gun violence issue in Chicago, Mayor Johnson stated, “Black death has unfortunately been accepted in this country for a very long time.” He also mentioned missed opportunities from 60 years ago that led to the current situation, without providing further details.
Johnson’s remarks drew swift reactions, with the Richard Nixon Foundation calling out the mayor for his baseless accusations. The foundation criticized Johnson’s comments as “gratuitous” and highlighted some of the achievements of the Nixon administration.
Notably, Johnson has a history of attributing the city’s issues to external factors, such as racism and his predecessor Lori Lightfoot. He has also accused conservatives of unfairly portraying Chicago as crime-ridden, citing racial motives behind such claims.
Despite some improvements in gun violence statistics compared to the previous year, Chicago still faces challenges in curbing shootings. Recent data shows a spike in shooting incidents over a 28-day period leading up to June 30.
When contacted for comment, a media spokesman for Mayor Johnson declined to provide a response.
