Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) made several contentious remarks on Sunday regarding his hiring practices for black individuals in the city.
While addressing the congregation at God’s Apostle Church in Woodlawn, Johnson’s statements sparked online backlash, as reported by MRC-TV on Monday.
“Some critics come at me and say, ‘The mayor talks about black employment.’ But I’m saying, when you hire our people, we’re also looking to include everyone else,” he stated.
“I can’t think of many cultures where we consider cousins; that’s just how generous we are. We tend to make everyone feel like family, right?”
Social media users responded to his comments, with one writing, “So you hire people based on their race! It’s hard to understand that this is okay!”
Another remarked, “Maybe you should focus on hiring individuals with the skills to improve the city. If they can do the job, no one cares what color they are.”
In the clip, Johnson highlighted various black city officials, suggesting that “our people” should be given a chance to expand their businesses.
In January, Breitbart News reported that President Donald Trump had signed a repeal of a Lyndon B. Johnson-era executive order, which required government contractors to engage in affirmative action.
This order impacts the broader suspension of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in federal work and contracts.
Later at a rally, Trump reiterated his commitment to a merit-based system, breaking away from policies established by former President Joe Biden.
In October 2023, Johnson also urged city officials to reduce parking fines for black residents, according to Breitbart News.
The city had implemented ‘racial stocks,’ promoting the notion that urgency is linked to white supremacy, which influenced police to issue fewer parking tickets to black residents, the report indicated.
Johnson’s approval ratings contrasted sharply, as only 6.6% of voters supported him in February surveys, with many having backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the previous election, according to Breitbart News.
The main concerns identified by respondents included crime, high taxes, and inflation, with only 11% mentioning ‘racism’ and a mere 3% citing ‘LGBTQ+ rights’ as pressing issues.
