Controversial Praise from Chicago’s Mayor

Brandon Johnson, the Democratic mayor of Chicago, recently expressed admiration for Joanne Chesimard, a woman convicted of killing a police officer during a traffic stop in 1973, in a video shared on social media.

Chesimard, who is also known as Assata Shakur, reportedly died in Havana, Cuba, as announced by the Cuban government. Johnson’s comments followed a Chicago Teachers Union social media post honoring Shakur, which prompted questions during a press conference he held on Monday. He stated, “Assata Shakur is a key figure in the Black Liberation Movement, which repeatedly claimed her innocence.”

FBI Director Kash Patel criticized those paying tribute to Chesimard, asserting that she did not fight for justice but instead murdered New Jersey trooper Werner Forster. He emphasized her status as a fugitive, saying, “The FBI hasn’t stopped calling her what she was: a terrorist.”

Chesimard was wanted for various crimes, including bank robberies, and her altercation with law enforcement before the 1973 traffic stop involved a shootout, according to reports.

Johnson’s remarks came amid increased tensions following a recent riot at an ICE facility in the Chicago area and violent incidents connected to immigration enforcement, including a deadly shooting in Dallas. Just days prior to these events, multiple individuals were charged with attempted murder in relation to a prior incident at a Texas facility.