Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is once again facing a tsunami of criticism after she suggested at a campaign rally that the city’s black residents should either vote for her or not vote at all in the upcoming municipal elections.
Lightfoot made the comments while speaking at a rally at Greenwood Oasis Church in the city’s Grand Crossing neighborhood.
“Any vote coming out of the south side for someone not named Lightfoot is a vote for Chuy García or Paul Vallas,” the mayor said. “If you want them to control your faith and your destiny, then stay home. So don’t vote.
García called the comments “disqualifying”.
“It’s disqualifying rhetoric for anyone hoping to lead a Chicago that is a multiracial, multiethnic city,” he said. “We need unity, not division.”
Willie Wilson says the comments were divisive and that the people of Chicago deserve a candidate who will seek to unite the people.
“Mayor Lightfoot’s comments are delusional, divisive, dangerous and disappointing,” Wilson said in a statement. “Our city deserves a mayor who doesn’t use race to divide us. We’ve been divided too long. The mayor should encourage everyone to vote!
Wilson said the comments could be a form of “voter suppression” and urged all candidates to condemn Lightfoot’s remarks.
Ja’Mal Green also condemned the comments.
“Comments like these are an affront to the democratic process, where everyone’s voice is heard at the ballot box,” he said in a statement. “Lori’s desperation shows, as reality sets in and her campaign crumbles. The people of Chicago are too smart to be fooled by her rhetoric of fear.
Brandon Johnson accused Lightfoot of caring more about power than encouraging Chicagoans to participate in the democratic process.
“Lori Lightfoot telling residents not to vote unless they vote for her shows that she cares more about maintaining power for herself than empowering communities or getting things done for the people of the city,” he said in a statement. “But the people of Chicago deserve real leadership and solutions for a better, safer, stronger city.”
Lightfoot’s campaign released a statement following the controversy, saying it “urges all Chicagoans” to vote in the Feb. 28 election.
“The stakes in this election are high, and the people of Chicago should take action to ensure that we continue to build on the economic progress she led on the South and West side, raising the minimum wage to $15. and investing in public safety and affordable housing,” the campaign says.
Lightfoot is fighting hard to at least make a runoff in the mayoral election, which is increasingly likely in the nine-person field. The first two voters on February 28 will move on to a runoff that would take place on April 4, unless a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
NBC Chicago
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